Marketa Vondrousova capped a fairytale return from injury with a gritty three-set victory over Wang Xinyu in the Berlin Open final, sealing her first WTA title since lifting the Wimbledon crown in 2023.
The 25-year-old Czech had dropped as low as world No.164 after a turbulent, injury-hit year but showed trademark resilience to prevail 7-6 (10), 4-6, 6-2 in a pulsating contest that stretched just over two hours.
Playing her first final in nearly two years, Vondrousova saved six set points in a thrilling opening-set tiebreak, weathered a second-set setback, and then surged away in the decider with her best tennis of the week.
“This is incredible,” she said. “We just came here hoping to win a match, and now we’re holding the trophy. I’m just so grateful.”
Wang, a 23-year-old qualifier ranked 49th, had already stunned Coco Gauff, Daria Kasatkina, Paula Badosa, and Liudmila Samsonova en route to her maiden WTA final. Her aggressive baseline play once again threatened to cause an upset.
She broke Vondrousova late in the first set after the Czech slipped and tweaked her ankle. But Vondrousova responded with poise, saving a flurry of set points to take the opener in a tense tiebreak.
Wang rallied impressively to claim the second set, but fatigue and experience began to show in the decider. Vondrousova broke twice to race 4-1 ahead and never looked back.
She closed the match in style at 5-2 with a sequence of flawless points, ending with a heavy forehand that forced the final error.
For Wang, despite the loss, it was a breakout week that marked her as one to watch. “We keep on building and looking forward to the next one,” she said after her spirited run.
