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Pegula powers past Sabalenka to reach Berlin final / Photo: © AFP
Pegula powers past Sabalenka to reach Berlin final
American Jessica Pegula rallied past world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0 to reach the final of the Berlin WTA grass-court tournament for the second time.
The world number four will bid for her 12th WTA title, her second on the Berlin grass after her 2024 victory against either Czech Linda Noskova, ranked 13th, or Filipina wildcard Alexandre Eala, who play the second semi-final.
Sabalenka had been 9-3 in previous meetings against the American third seed but it was their first clash on grass.
Pegula got off to a strong start, capitalising on Sabalenka's poor forehand with ten unforced errors in the first three games.
She broke serve to lead 2-1, then gave Sabalenka no chance on her serve, securing the set 6-4 in three-quarters of an hour.
The Belarusian took an early lead in the second set, breaking serve immediately, but looked shaky when it came to closing out the set and was pushed to a tiebreak which was interrupted by rain at 3-1 for the American on her opponent's serve.
Two and a half hours later, the two players returned to the Steffi Graf court, and Sabalenka snatched the set, setting up a deciding third set.
Pegula quickly pulled away in the deciding set, closing it out 6-0 after two hours and 13 minutes on court.
Eala, who upset world number two Elena Rybakina in the last 16 and Queen's Club champion Donna Vekic in the first round, will be looking to continue her fine form against eighth seed Noskova.
The 21-year-old world number 35 is the first player from the Philippines to break into the top 50.
S.Seo--SG
