Marketa Vondrousova delivered a stunning performance at the Berlin Open, defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka to reach her first final since her 2023 Wimbledon triumph. Vondrousova, ranked 164th and recovering from shoulder surgery, secured a 6-2, 6-4 victory and will face Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu in the final.

"I didn't play for a long time. I am just happy to be back healthy and so grateful to play these matches," Vondrousova said on the WTA Tour website. "When I saw the field here, I was like, 'OK, let's just try to win the first round' and then, you know, now this is happening."

Sabalenka saved two break points in the opening game but was broken in her second service game and again to trail 5-2 in the first set. The three-time Grand Slam champion sealed a break at the first time of asking to lead 2-0 in the second, but Vondrousova hit back immediately. A tense scrap ensued with the set staying on serve until 25-year-old Vondrousova broke for 5-4 and then served out the match.

Wang Xinyu, who beat 2021 Berlin Open champion Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-1 in the other semi-final, expressed her joy at reaching her first WTA singles final. "This week has been a dream for me," Wang said. "Coming into every match, I wasn't expecting anything, it was really just to enjoy the stage."

In another grass-court event leading up to Wimbledon, Daniil Medvedev held off a fightback from world number three Alexander Zverev to win 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (1-7), 6-4 and reach Sunday's Halle Open final. Medvedev, who will take on world number 45 Alexander Bublik, said, "I am happy with my level, I played great. I would have loved to finish on the match points [in the second set]. The first one I went for it and missed it. The second one I went a bit slower to wait for a mistake and he made a great point. I am happy to win in the end."

Medvedev needed treatment for a nosebleed at 4-4 in the opening set, reminiscent of his quarter-final victory on Friday. The Russian has lost five ATP finals in succession, with his last triumph coming at the Italian Open in May 2023.