World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Elena Rybakina 6-7(5), 7-6(8), 6-4, saving four match points in a thrilling quarterfinal at the Ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin on Friday, June 20.
The three-hour, 12-minute clash, a key Wimbledon warm-up, propelled Sabalenka into the semifinals of the WTA 500 grass-court event, showcasing her resilience after a challenging clay season.
Sabalenka, the 2024 Australian Open champion, trailed 5-3 in the second-set tiebreak, facing four match points as Rybakina’s serve and forehand dominated. The Belarusian responded with aggressive baseline play, firing 18 winners in the set to force a decider. In the third set, Sabalenka converted her third break point at 4-4, sealing the match with a 125 mph ace, her 15th of the day, per WTA Insider. Rybakina, ranked No. 4, struggled with 42 unforced errors despite 12 aces, reflecting her inconsistent grass form post-2023 Wimbledon.
Sabalenka, a 2021 Berlin finalist, faces either No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula or qualifier Anna Kalinskaya next. Her victory strengthens her Wimbledon seeding prospects, where she reached the 2023 semifinals. Rybakina, hampered by a recent wrist injury, will regroup for the All England Club. The match, broadcast by Tennis TV, underscored the WTA’s competitive depth, with Sabalenka’s mental toughness earning praise from analysts.