Sabalenka Survives To Reach Q-Finals

Belarusian's resilient performance sets the tone ahead of tough Wimbledon campaign

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BERLIN - World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka completed a 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) win over Swiss Rebeka Masarova on June 19 to reach the Berlin Open quarter-finals, completing a match that had been suspended the night before because of slippery conditions.

The Belarusian, playing for the first time since losing to American Coco Gauff in the French Open final almost two weeks ago, was a set up on June 18 when play was stopped after officials said the court was getting too slippery with humidity rising after sunset.

When the match resumed, the 27-year-old was broken at the start of the second set and found herself 3-1 and 4-2 down.

She kept her cool, however, and broke back with a fine volley to force a tiebreak. Sabalenka squandered two match points before sealing her victory at her next opportunity when her 112nd-ranked opponent sank a simple mid-court forehand into the net.

Less than two weeks before Wimbledon, the top seed will next face Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, who beat Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).