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A day of semifinal showdowns in Berlin and Nottingham has cleared the path for new champions to be crowned, guaranteeing that Sunday’s finals will be breakthrough moments for the winners. In Berlin, the magical comeback run of the World No. 1 finally came to an end at the hands of a former Wimbledon champion who is rediscovering her best form on her favorite surface. Meanwhile, in Nottingham, one of the most improbable Cinderella stories of the season continued, as an American underdog who had never won a tour-level grass match before this week powered her way into the final. With four players now standing on the precipice of a career-defining title, Saturday’s action has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the week.
Berlin Open: A Champion’s Return to Form
Aryna Sabalenka’s luck finally ran out. After her miraculous escape in the quarterfinals, the World No. 1 was defeated by Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-4. Sabalenka mounted one last charge, earning a 0-40 advantage as Vondrousova served for the match. For a moment, it seemed another comeback was brewing. However, the crafty lefty held her nerve, fought off the break points, and closed out the massive victory. It was a statement win for Vondrousova, who is playing her best tennis since her stunning Wimbledon victory in 2023. Her victory over the top-ranked player sent shockwaves through the tournament and was a result that the sharpest sports handicappers might have predicted given Vondrousova’s grass-court pedigree.
Wang Reaches First-Ever WTA Final
Vondrousova’s opponent in the final will be China’s Xinyu Wang, who is having a career-best week. After her big win over Coco Gauff and advancing past an injured Paula Badosa, Wang played with confidence to topple former Berlin champion Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-1. Despite some early nerves, Wang settled in and dominated the second set to reach her first-ever WTA Tour singles final. Her journey has been impressive, and she’s a player many will be watching on the leaderboard as she goes for a life-changing title.
Lexus Nottingham Open: The Dream Run Continues
The most incredible story in tennis this week belongs to McCartney Kessler. The American, who arrived in Nottingham having never won a WTA-tour level match on a grass court, is now in the final. Her amazing run continued with a powerful 6-4, 6-2 semifinal victory over Slovak Rebecca Sramkova. From upsetting the No. 1 seed in the first round to now standing one win away from a title, Kessler’s unexpected journey has made her the talk of the tennis world and a major story on sports picks sites all week.
Kessler’s opponent in the final will be Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, who is also seeking her first title on grass. Yastremska defeated Polish sixth seed Magda Linette 6-4, 6-4 in a match interrupted by a 35-minute rain delay. Despite a late push from Linette after the break, Yastremska held strong to book her spot in the championship match, setting up a fascinating final between two players on the verge of a career first.
Looking Ahead to Championship Sunday
Sunday’s finals present two incredible storylines. In Berlin, it’s a battle between a proven Grand Slam champion in Vondrousova and a rising star in Wang, who is playing with nothing to lose. In Nottingham, a new champion is guaranteed as the ultimate underdog, McCartney Kessler, faces the powerful Dayana Yastremska, with both women seeking their first-ever grass-court trophy. With so much on the line, the live odds and scores for these championship matches will be fascinating to watch.
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