World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka endured another humbling defeat on Saturday, falling to Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinals of the Berlin Open. The loss marked the second consecutive match in which Sabalenka was bageled, having dropped the first set 6-0 to Pegula in their previous encounter at the same tournament last year.
Sabalenka's Struggles Continue
Sabalenka, the defending champion in Berlin, was broken four times in the match and managed just 58% of first serves in play. Pegula, the No. 2 seed, capitalized on Sabalenka's unforced errors, tallying 22 winners to Sabalenka's 18. According to tournament statistics, Sabalenka committed 31 unforced errors, compared to Pegula's 15.
“I just tried to stay focused on my game plan and not let her power dictate the points,” Pegula said after the match. “She’s a great player, but I knew if I could keep the ball deep and move her around, I’d have a chance.”
Pegula's Dominance on Grass
The victory extended Pegula’s winning streak on grass to eight matches, including her title run at the 2025 Eastbourne International. Pegula will face either Ons Jabeur or Maria Sakkari in the final. Sabalenka’s defeat means she will lose valuable ranking points, potentially dropping to No. 5 in the world next week.
Sabalenka had entered the tournament as the top seed after Iga Swiatek withdrew due to injury. However, the Belarusian’s erratic form continued, as she struggled with her serve and groundstrokes throughout the week. In her quarterfinal match against Veronika Kudermetova, Sabalenka saved two match points before winning in three sets.
Looking Ahead
Sabalenka is now 0-2 in semifinals this season and has not reached a final since winning the 2025 Australian Open. She is expected to take a short break before preparing for Wimbledon, where she reached the semifinals in 2025. Pegula, meanwhile, is seeking her third title of the season and her first on grass.
