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Championship Sunday is a day of immense pressure and unparalleled opportunity, a day that can make a player’s season and one that the most dedicated sports handicappers circle on their calendars. For some, it represents a return to glory, a chance to reassert their dominance after a long and difficult journey. For others, it’s the ultimate breakthrough moment, the culmination of a dream week where they prove to the world, and themselves, that they belong among the elite. On a scorching Sunday in Europe, the tennis world witnessed both of these incredible stories unfold. In Berlin, a recent Wimbledon champion battled through a dramatic, nerve-wracking final to claim her first title in nearly a year. And in Nottingham, a true Cinderella story reached its magical conclusion, as an American underdog completed one of the most improbable tournament runs in recent memory to lift her first-ever trophy on grass.
Berlin Open: A Champion is Reborn
Marketa Vondrousova is officially back. In a performance that showcased her championship mettle, the Czech star captured her first WTA title since her historic Wimbledon triumph in 2023, outlasting a valiant Xinyu Wang of China in a grueling 7-6 (10), 4-6, 6-2 final. The victory was a massive statement for Vondrousova, who has struggled with shoulder injuries since her win at the All England Club, signaling that she is once again a major threat on her favorite surface.
The entire match hinged on a spectacular first-set tiebreaker. Wang, playing in her first-ever WTA final, had the set on her racquet on six separate occasions, at one point holding a commanding 6-2 lead. But Vondrousova refused to yield, displaying incredible mental toughness to fight off every single set point before finally stealing the 12-10 tiebreak. This dramatic momentum shift was a brutal lesson for the young finalist and a moment that would have been fascinating to track on a live leaderboard. Though Wang bravely fought back to win the second set, Vondrousova’s class showed in the decider, as she secured two early breaks to cruise to the title.
Lexus Nottingham Open: The Dream Comes True
The most unbelievable story in tennis this week has its storybook ending. American McCartney Kessler, who arrived in Nottingham having never won a single tour-level match on a grass court, is the 2025 Lexus Nottingham Open champion. She completed her magical run by defeating Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 7-5 in a final that was interrupted by nearly two hours of rain delays. Kessler’s entire week was a massive upset, a true Cinderella story that no one on any sports picks sites could have possibly predicted.
The final itself was a perfect reflection of the poise Kessler has shown all week. After navigating the long rain delays, she faced immense pressure late in the second set. Serving for the title at 5-3, Yastremska bravely fought off five separate match points and then broke Kessler’s serve to even the set at 5-5. Lesser players might have crumbled, but Kessler showed the heart of a champion. She immediately broke back to take a 6-5 lead and then calmly served out the match to capture her first-ever grass-court title. With the win, Kessler is projected to rocket into the world’s Top 40 for the first time in her career.
Looking Ahead to Wimbledon
These results send major ripples through the tennis world just a week before the start of Wimbledon. Marketa Vondrousova has now re-established herself as a top-tier favorite to defend her crown, proving both her health and her nerve are ready for the big stage. Meanwhile, McCartney Kessler becomes the most dangerous kind of floater in the Wimbledon draw—a player with newfound confidence, a powerful game perfectly suited for grass, and absolutely nothing to lose. With Vondrousova back in form and Kessler emerging as a new threat, the Wimbledon odds and scores picture just got a lot more interesting.
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