Manuel Chávez
Dailysports's expert
Aryna Sabalenka
Marketa Vondrousova
In the semifinals of the Berlin grass-court tournament, Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova will face off. Here’s my take on the best bet for this anticipated clash.
Aryna Sabalenka
The Belarusian star rightfully holds the world number one spot. This year, she reached the finals of both Grand Slams, but fell short—first to Keys and then to Gauff. Sabalenka has played in seven finals this season, claiming victory in three: Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid.
In Berlin, things haven't been easy for Sabalenka. In her opening match, she overcame Switzerland’s Masarova in straight sets—6-2, 7-6. She then pulled off a stunning comeback against Rybakina: in the decisive third set tiebreak, Sabalenka trailed 2-6 but saved four match points, rattled off six consecutive points, and clinched a dramatic win—7-6, 3-6, 7-6.
Marketa Vondrousova
The Czech player has endured a tough period, missing half of last season due to injury. She returned this year, only to pause again after realizing she hadn’t fully recovered.
In Berlin, Vondrousova is showing solid form. She took down the formidable Madison Keys in her opener—7-6, 7-5—then battled past the talented Diana Shnaider—6-3, 6-7, 6-3. In her most recent match, she comfortably defeated the experienced Ons Jabeur—6-4, 6-1. Her current ranking is only 164th, but that hardly reflects her true level.
Match facts
- Sabalenka has won 42 out of 49 matches this season.
- Vondrousova has played just 14 matches, with 9 victories.
- Here are the odds for the upcoming showdown: Sabalenka win – 1.39, Vondrousova win – 3.2
H2H
This matchup has produced some thrilling encounters: they've faced each other seven times, with Sabalenka leading the head-to-head 4-3. The only grass-court meeting also went the Belarusian’s way.
Prediction
We’ll see two strong, experienced players square off. Sabalenka hasn’t cruised on grass, but I believe Vondrousova is still searching for peak form. Expect an intriguing battle that could go either way. I’m taking a risk and backing the Belarusian with a -3 game handicap.
