Rybakina held a 6-2 advantage in the decisive tiebreak and seemed poised to secure her spot in the semifinals. However, after being denied victory on her first match point by a net cord, the shift in momentum favored Sabalenka.
The Belarusian strung together five consecutive points, ultimately securing the victory as Rybakina faltered under pressure.
Sabalenka’s resilience and power were key against the 2022 Wimbledon champion. The first set featured a back-and-forth contest, with Rybakina breaking for a 4-2 lead before Sabalenka responded swiftly. Both players held serve from 4-4, forcing a tiebreak that Sabalenka narrowly won 8-6.
Rybakina came back strong in the second set, racing to a 2-0 lead and breaking again late to take it 6-3.
The final set was fiercely fought, with Sabalenka breaking to go up 5-4, but she couldn’t convert and allowed Rybakina to break back and hold for 6-5. Sabalenka managed to hold under pressure, leading to a dramatic tiebreak.
“Elena is a fantastic player; we’ve had many tough encounters at critical moments. Honestly, I have no idea how I pulled off those last points—I think I just got lucky,” Sabalenka reflected post-match.
“When I was starting out, I won many matches coming back from match points against me. Recently I thought to myself, ‘It’s been a while since I had one of those crazy comebacks,’ and here I am.
“Winning matches like this is incredible; it strengthens your fighting spirit for upcoming tournaments, and I’m proud of myself for battling until the very last point.”
Sabalenka will next meet Czech player Marketa Vondrousova, who is chasing her first final since winning Wimbledon in 2023. Vondrousova triumphed over Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-1 in a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final.
Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu progressed to the semi-finals after eighth seed Paula Badosa withdrew due to a right hip injury during their quarter-final match.
Wang, currently ranked 49th in the world, was ahead 6-1 0-0 when Badosa retired. The Spaniard, visibly frustrated, smashed her racket and threw it across the court after the post-match handshakes.
The 23-year-old Wang has had a breakthrough week in the German capital, having defeated second seed Coco Gauff in the previous round. She will face either American Amanda Anisimova or Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the final.
