Sabalenka Outserves Rybakina in First-Set Tiebreak Under Berlin Sun
Played under the scorching Berlin sun, a high-stakes quarterfinal at the Ladies Open between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina promised intensity — and delivered. Sabalenka, still working through the sting of her Roland Garros final loss, faced Rybakina, who was looking to reset her grass-court rhythm after a shock defeat to Tatjana Maria in Queen’s just a week ago.
The opening set was a rollercoaster. Both players struggled to hold serve early, trading breaks until Rybakina appeared to gain the upper hand by going up 3-2 and serving for a 4-2 lead. But three consecutive unforced errors from the Kazakh derailed that opportunity. With momentum neutralized, both players elevated their serving — setting the stage for a tiebreak.
Tiebreak Summary
- Rybakina opened with a solid serve: 1-0.
- Sabalenka responded with an ace, then a commanding serve: 1-2.
- Rybakina struck a textbook one-two combo: 2-2.
- But she followed with a poor forehand error on second serve: 2-3.
- Sabalenka pushed ahead again with clutch serving: 2-4.
- A net error from Rybakina widened the gap: 2-5.
- The Kazakh regrouped briefly with a pair of strong points: 4-5.
- Sabalenka’s serve betrayed her at 5-5, but she steadied to lead 5-6.
- Rybakina countered with a near-ace to draw level at 6-6.
- But a long first serve and a powerful backhand strike from Sabalenka gave her a second set point.
- Then came a moment of daring — a second-serve winner fired into the corner, sealing the tiebreak. Sabalenka takes the first set!
While the margins were razor-thin, it was Sabalenka who maintained composure and dictated the pace during the key points. The Belarusian’s superior serving proved decisive as she claimed the first set with regained authority.
Elena Rybakina dominates the second set
Four consecutive points on Sabalenka’s serve, after trailing 30–0, gave World No. 11 Elena Rybakina an assertive start against the World No. 1. This time, the Kazakh backed it up with a confident service hold to take a 2–0 lead in the second set. At that stage, the first set stats painted the following picture:
Sabalenka vs Rybakina – Set 1 Stats (played on June 20, 2025)
| Key Stats | Sabalenka | Rybakina |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.07 | 0.93 |
| Serve Rating | 233 | 244 |
| Aces | 2 | 5 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 42% (16/38) | 65% (28/43) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 56% (9/16) | 79% (22/28) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 67% (14/21) | 29% (4/14) |
| Break Points Saved | 33% (1/3) | 60% (3/5) |
| Service Games | 67% (4/6) | 67% (4/6) |
| Ace % | 5.3% | 11.6% |
| Double Fault % | 2.6% | 2.3% |
| Return Rating | 165 | 177 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 21% (6/28) | 44% (7/16) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 71% (10/14) | 33% (7/21) |
| Break Points Won | 40% (2/5) | 67% (2/3) |
| Return Games | 33% (2/6) | 33% (2/6) |
| Pressure Points | 38% (3/8) | 63% (5/8) |
| Service Points | 63% (24/38) | 60% (26/43) |
| Return Points | 40% (17/43) | 37% (14/38) |
| Total Points | 51% (41/81) | 49% (40/81) |
| Max Points In A Row | 4 | 6 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Service Games Won | 67% (4/6) | 67% (4/6) |
| Return Games Won | 33% (2/6) | 33% (2/6) |
| Total Games Won | 50% (6/12) | 50% (6/12) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 2 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set Duration | 0h 57m |
It showed that while Rybakina’s first-serve percentage was high, she struggled significantly on her second serve — winning only 4 of 14 points.
Despite similar stats in the second set, Rybakina managed to build a 3-1 lead. However, a brief dip in form allowed Sabalenka to level at 3-3. Surprisingly, Rybakina responded with a flawless return game—breaking Sabalenka to love and regaining momentum at 4-3. Playing the cleaner tennis throughout the set, she sealed it 6-3 with another timely break, leveling the match.
When Nerves Betray: Rybakina’s Vanishing Lead and Sabalenka’s Rise from the Brink in Berlin
As long shadows began to stretch across the Berlin grass, both players held serve in the opening stages of the decider. In a curious twist, Sabalenka needed Hawkeye assistance on both her first two aces of the set. Rybakina followed with her 11th and 12th aces in the third game to move ahead 2-1, showcasing growing confidence and sharp instincts at the net—a tactical adjustment that began to pay dividends as the match wore on.
A comfortable hold from Sabalenka leveled the score at 2-2, setting the stage for a potential momentum shift as the match edged closer to crunch time. In the fifth game, Sabalenka applied pressure, but Rybakina held firm—relying on precise serving and sealing the game with her 13th ace to stay ahead at 3-2.
Serving straight into the sun, Sabalenka allowed the sixth game to slip into deuce with a double fault. Yet, she managed to overpower Rybakina once again. At that moment, no one could have predicted which way the match would tilt.
Would Rybakina maintain her serving rhythm, as Sabalenka began shifting through the gears with greater intent? A slip at the net on game point gave the answer — Rybakina fired a clean passing shot and moved ahead 4-3.
An exceptional return set the tone for Sabalenka as she held serve to level at 4-4. Rybakina, meanwhile, began to show visible signs of frustration — a string of unforced errors prompted gestures of dismay, culminating in a racket bounce after a poor forehand miss. Down 0-40 on serve, a sudden and sharp mental dip had set in. Out of nowhere, Sabalenka stood on the brink, needing only one more hold to close out the match.
Fired up but visibly battling her own frustrations, Rybakina struck the first point on Sabalenka’s serve with authority. Sabalenka answered to level at 15-all, but Rybakina claimed the next rally with composure. At 15-40, a brilliant return raised the tension — was Sabalenka cracking under pressure? She saved the first breakpoint in style, but a second serve was required to fend off the next. Somehow, she held for 5-5. What a match.
Then, in the 11th game, fortune tipped Rybakina’s way — a net cord gave her a lucky bounce and game point, which she converted to edge ahead 6-5. With Sabalenka’s serve under constant threat, could Rybakina seize the moment and break once more to clinch it?
Sabalenka nets a return off Rybakina’s second serve — 3-2, but the mini-break remains intact. Another second serve follows, and this time Rybakina commands the rally for 4-2. Is Sabalenka unraveling? It appears so. A routine error hands Rybakina a 5-2 lead and a chance to serve out the match.
A blistering serve makes it 6-2 — four match points for the Kazakh. The first is erased by a fortunate net-cord return that tumbles over. The second, by a Sabalenka ace. The third slips away as Rybakina mishandles a second serve return. Suddenly it’s 6-5. The pressure mounts.
Rybakina serves again… and misfires on a forehand. All four match points gone. 6-6. Then another error. From 6-2 up to 6-7 down — match point Sabalenka.
Is this the difference between the World No.1 and the chasing pack? It’s hard to say. What is certain: this was a wild, breathtaking finale. Once again, Elena Rybakina lets a match slip away that was entirely within her grasp.
Sabalenka vs Rybakina – Match Stats (played on June 18, 2025)
| Key Stats | Sabalenka | Rybakina |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.90 | 1.11 |
| Serve Rating | 231 | 263 |
| Aces | 6 | 14 |
| Double Faults | 5 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 52% (65/126) | 61% (66/109) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 62% (40/65) | 73% (48/66) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 51% (31/61) | 42% (18/43) |
| Break Points Saved | 40% (4/10) | 56% (5/9) |
| Service Games Won | 65% (11/17) | 75% (12/16) |
| Ace % | 4.8% | 12.8% |
| Double Fault % | 4% | 1.8% |
| Return Rating | 154 | 182 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 27% (18/66) | 38% (25/65) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 58% (25/43) | 49% (30/61) |
| Break Points Won | 44% (4/9) | 60% (6/10) |
| Return Games Won | 25% (4/16) | 35% (6/17) |
| Pressure Points | 42% (8/19) | 58% (11/19) |
| Service Points | 56% (71/126) | 61% (66/109) |
| Return Points | 39% (43/109) | 44% (55/126) |
| Total Points | 49% (114/235) | 51% (121/235) |
| Match Points Saved | 4 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 6 |
| Total Games Won | 45% (15/33) | 55% (18/33) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 4 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Match Duration | 2h 41m | |