Vondrousova Set to Clash with Samsonova or Xinyu in Berlin Open Final

BERLIN: Marketa Vondrousova, the Wimbledon 2023 titleholder, delivered a stellar performance at the Steffi Graf Stadion on Saturday, securing her spot in the Berlin Open final. She achieved this with a decisive 6-2, 6-4 victory over Aryna Sabalenka, who is currently ranked as the world’s number one.

The Czech player needed just one hour and 21 minutes to equalize their head-to-head record at four wins each. This win marks Vondrousova’s first final appearance since her triumph at Wimbledon.

Vondrousova demonstrated her dominance by breaking the Belarusian’s serve twice in the opening set, while successfully defending against two break points against her.

Reflecting on her success, Vondrousova emphasized the importance of aggressive play on grass courts, highlighting it as a crucial element of her approach.

Quote from Vondrousova:

“I believe that on grass, it’s necessary to take calculated risks, and that was my mindset. I told myself, let’s go for it. Otherwise, the match would continue without a clear advantage. I felt very confident today, so I’m extremely pleased,” Vondrousova stated.

Vondrousova also expressed her satisfaction with her performance, especially considering her recent time away from the sport due to health concerns. She conveyed her appreciation to her supporters for their encouragement.

More from Vondrousova:

“After being sidelined for a significant period, I am incredibly happy to be healthy again and to have the opportunity to participate in these matches. Initially, my goal was simply to win the first round, but now this is happening. I am thankful to everyone for their support.”

Notably, this victory represents Marketa Vondrousova’s first-ever win against a top-ranked player.

This achievement is particularly significant for Vondrousova, who has faced injury challenges since July 2024 and entered the Berlin Open unseeded, having missed three months this season due to a shoulder injury.

In the final, the Czech player is slated to compete against either Liudmila Samsonova, the 2021 champion, or Wang Xinyu, a qualifier from China. The title match is scheduled for Sunday.