Once again, two favorites have been eliminated for the tournament victory at Berlin Tennis Open. Defending champion Jessica Pegula and Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini failed surprisingly early at the tournament on Wednesday.
The American Pegula lost her marathon round of 16 against the Russian Ljudmila Samsonowa after 3:21 hours with 7: 6 (10: 8), 5: 7, 6: 7 (5: 7). It was only on Tuesday Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka failed on Samsanowa.
In the previous year, the current world ranking third had won the lawn event in the Grunewald, Samsonowa had triumphed in 2021.
Jabeur beats Paolini
In her opening match against ONS Jabeur from Tunisia, the Italian Paolini had no chance in two sets and had no chance at 1: 6, 3: 6. Last year Paolini had only lost to the classic lawn Wimbledon in the final against the Czech Barbora Krejcikova, she is fifth in the world rankings.
Jabeur had won the title in Berlin three years ago. She now meets the winner of the game between Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic and the Russian Diana Schnaider.
German players are no longer present at the WTA-500 tournament after the opening of Eva Lys. On Wednesday evening, the title contender Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus will be in action for the first time.
Sabalenka interrupted against Masarova
After the long third singing of the day in the Steffi-Graf Stadium, the round of 16 of the world ranking Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus against the Swiss Rebeka Masarova could no longer be ended in the evening.
The game was canceled at 6-2 for Sabalenka after 44 minutes because the lawn had become too slippery. It is to be continued on Thursday.
Many top stars use the tournament in Berlin to prepare for Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam tournament of the year begins on June 30th.
Broadcast: RBB24, June 18, 2025, 9.45 p.m.
