BERLIN: Marketa Vondrousova powered past world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-4 at the Berlin Open on Saturday to book a place in her first final since she won Wimbledon in 2023.

The 25-year-old Czech, ranked 164 in the world rankings, controlled the tempo from the outset with big serving on the grass as she wrapped up the win in one hour and 20 minutes.

She broke the Belarusian twice in the first set while saving both break points she faced.

The second set saw the players trade early breaks and Sabalenka saved two break points to stay in touch at 3-2, before the match settled into a rhythm at 4-4.

Sabalenka, who saved four match points against Elena Rybakina on Friday, could not repeat that escape as Vondrousova brokefor5-4 and servedit out on her first match point with an ace.

Vondrousova plummeted down the rankings from sixth after missing several months with a left shoulder injury for which she underwent surgery last year.

`I didn`t play for a long time,` said Vondrousova,who was appearing in her first WTA semi-final since April last year.

`I`m just happy to be back healthy, and so grateful to play these matches. 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.

Vondrousova will play qualifier Wang Xinyu in Sunday`s final, after the Chinese player beat Russian Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-1 in an hour and 15 minutes to reach the first final of her career.

The 23-year-old Wang, ranked 49th in the world, has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the round of 16.

`This week has been a dream for me,` Wang said.

`I`ve been playing unbelievable tennis here. I don`t know, it`s something with Berlin, I guess! `Coming into this match here, coming into every match, I wasn`t expecting anything, you know. For me, it was really just to enjoy the stage.`-Agencies