On June 20, 2025, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka collapsed on court during an intense Berlin Open quarterfinal against Elena Rybakina, a match that pushed both players to their physical and mental limits, ending with Sabalenka’s 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(6) victory after saving four match points, per Reuters. The grueling two-hour, 42-minute battle at Steffi Graf Stadion saw Sabalenka, trailing 6-2 in the third-set tiebreak, stage a “crazy comeback” by winning six straight points, per The Washington Post. During a particularly fierce rally, Sabalenka charged forward, lost her footing, and crashed onto the grass, a moment that underscored the match’s intensity, per EssentiallySports.
Sabalenka, who had faced controversy earlier in the tournament for questioning a match suspension against Rebeka Masarova, admitted post-match, “No idea how I was able to win those last points, I just got lucky,” crediting her fighting spirit, per Reuters. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, dominated the second set 6-3 and led 6-5 in the third, but a net cord on her first match point shifted momentum, per EssentiallySports. Rybakina, who took a medical timeout for medication in the second set, showed resilience despite recent inconsistent form, per @SignaMTO.
The match, their 11th meeting with Sabalenka now leading 7-4, highlighted their aggressive styles, with Rybakina’s 11 aces and Sabalenka’s 77% first-serve points won, per Pro Football Network. Fans on X, like @josemorgado, noted Rybakina won seven more points yet lost, calling it “one of those,” per. Sabalenka’s win sets up a semifinal against Marketa Vondrousova, as she eyes her fourth title of 2025, per Lob and Smash.
