Aryna Sabalenka beat Elena Rybakina in a thrilling quarter-final encounter at the Berlin Open.

Sabalenka won 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 7-6 (8-6) in two hours and 42 minutes and saved four match points to set up a semi-final against Marketa Vondrousova.

It was a tense start to the match as both players lost their first service games. After trading breaks once more later in the first set, Sabalenka eventually won the tie-break and took the lead in the match.

Rybakina fought back hard in the second, breaking Sabalenka three times, including in the first game, to force a third set.

Sabalenka had the opportunity to serve for the match at 5-4 in the final set, but Rybakina held her nerve and broke back, going on to set up another tie-break to decide the match.

Rybakina held four match points after moving into a 6-2 lead, but Sabalenka showed why she is world number one as she fought her way back to 6-6.

The French Open runner-up then secured the win with her first match point to end an enthralling quarter-final affair.

All grit & determination #BTO pic.twitter.com/YuB1X03GVG

— wta (@WTA) June 20, 2025

Data Debrief: Semi-final number eight

Sabalenka battled hard to reach her eighth semi-final of the season.

She has gone on to win three titles from those positions, emerging victorious in the Brisbane International, Miami Open, and Madrid Open, though she notably lost her last tournament, falling to Coco Gauff at the French Open.

Sabalenka and Rybakina had traded victories in their last five meetings, but Sabalenka extended her lead in the head-to-head to 7-4.