Berlin – Coco Gauff, fresh off her French Open triumph, suffered an unexpected defeat in the first round of the Berlin Open on Thursday. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka, the French Open runner-up, secured her spot in the quarter-finals, bolstering her Wimbledon preparations.
Gauff's Early Exit
American sensation Coco Gauff, seeded high after her Paris victory, fell to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Wang, ranked 49th, showcased impressive resilience, particularly in the second set where she recovered from a 3-1 deficit to win five consecutive games. "After I won the first set, I told myself, 'OK, let's take a minute and enjoy this. I'm playing the French Open champion and I won the first set'," Wang said after the match. This victory marks Wang's first win against Gauff, avenging her previous loss on the Berlin grass in 2022.
Sabalenka Advances
World number one Aryna Sabalenka had a tougher route to the quarter-finals. Her match against Rebeka Masarova, suspended on Wednesday, resumed with Sabalenka eventually prevailing 6-2, 7-6 (8/6). Masarova, ranked 112th, pushed Sabalenka to a tiebreak in the second set, testing the Belarusian's resolve. "It was a tough match, but I'm happy I hung in there on the tough moments," said Wang, reflecting the competitive nature of the day's matches.
Quarter-Final Matchups
Wang Xinyu will now face Spain's Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals. Sabalenka is set to clash with Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, who defeated Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova 6-4, 7-6 (7/5). Both Sabalenka and Rybakina are looking to fine-tune their grass-court game ahead of Wimbledon, a tournament where both aim to make a significant impact. Neither player has secured a title on grass, making this Berlin Open a crucial stepping stone.
- Gauff out after shock loss
- Sabalenka fights her way to the Quarter-Finals
- Wimbledon preparations continue