Sabalenka saves 4 match points to pip Rybakina in Berlin quarters

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka saved four match points against former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina to book her ticket to the semi-finals on grass in Berlin on Friday.

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Trailing the 2022 Wimbledon champion 6-2 in the final-set tie-break, Sabalenka won six straight points in a 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) comeback to reach her eighth semi-final of the season after two hours 42 minutes.

She next meets 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova who defeated Tunisian Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-1 earlier on Friday.

“Elena, she’s a great player and we've had a lot of tough battles... I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky, to be honest,’ said Sabalenka who now leads 7-4 in meetings with the Kazakh.