In a match that will be remembered as one of the most electrifying of the 2025 grass-court season, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka staged a breathtaking comeback to defeat Elena Rybakina 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(6) in the quarter-finals of the Berlin Open on June 20, 2025. The nearly three-hour battle at the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club saw Sabalenka save four match points, aided by a fortunate net cord, to secure her place in the semi-finals against 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. The clash, a testament to both players’ power and resilience, captivated fans and underscored Sabalenka’s unyielding fighting spirit as she prepares for Wimbledon.
The match began with a fiercely contested first set, where both players showcased their aggressive styles. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, broke Sabalenka early to lead 4-2, only for the Belarusian to respond with a break of her own. The set went to a tiebreak, where Sabalenka’s precision under pressure shone, clinching it 8-6. Rybakina, however, roared back in the second set, capitalizing on a dip in Sabalenka’s serve to race to a 2-0 lead and eventually level the match 6-3 with two additional breaks. “Elena, she’s a great player, and we’ve had a lot of tough battles,” Sabalenka said post-match, acknowledging the intensity of their rivalry, now tilted 7-4 in her favor.
The deciding set was a rollercoaster of momentum swings. Sabalenka broke for a 5-4 lead and served for the match, but Rybakina’s relentless groundstrokes and 14 aces kept her in contention, breaking back and holding for 6-5. With the crowd on edge, Sabalenka forced a tiebreak, where the match’s defining moment unfolded. Trailing 6-2, facing four match points, Sabalenka’s backhand clipped the net on Rybakina’s first match point, dribbling over for a “dead net cord” that shifted the momentum. “I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky, to be honest,” Sabalenka confessed, her humility belying the grit that saw her win six consecutive points to seal the tiebreak 8-6.
This “crazy comeback,” as Sabalenka called it, marked her eighth semi-final of the season and her first in Berlin, where her best previous result was a quarter-final in 2024. “I remember a long time ago when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points, and not so long ago, I was thinking that it’s been a while since I’ve made a crazy comeback, and here I am,” she said. The victory, despite Rybakina winning seven more points overall (121-114), highlighted Sabalenka’s ability to seize critical moments, a trait that has defined her 2025 season, with titles in Miami and Madrid and finals at the Australian and French Opens.
Rybakina, ranked No. 11, showed her grass-court prowess, having won in Strasbourg earlier in 2025 and reached the Berlin quarter-finals with wins over Ashlyn Krueger and Katerina Siniakova. Her 14 aces and powerful forehands kept Sabalenka under pressure, but the net cord and subsequent errors in the tiebreak proved costly. The Kazakhstani’s resilience, however, signals her readiness for Wimbledon, where she remains a formidable contender.
Sabalenka’s next challenge is Vondrousova, who defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-1 to reach the semi-finals. “She’s a very tricky player, has a good touch and a lot of slices,” Sabalenka noted, anticipating a tactical battle. “Her game fits perfectly on grass; it’s going to be a tough challenge, but I’m excited.” With 17 wins in her last 19 matches, Sabalenka’s confidence is soaring, bolstered by this epic victory. “It’s amazing to win matches like this,” she said. “I’m proud of myself for how I stayed in it. I was fighting, I was trying until the very last point.”
As the tennis world turns its attention to Wimbledon, Sabalenka’s Berlin triumph serves as a powerful statement. Her ability to overcome adversity, aided by a stroke of luck, underscores why she’s the player to beat on grass. Fans eagerly await her semi-final clash, expecting more drama from a player whose fighting spirit continues to redefine the women’s game.
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