Marketa Vondrousova reacts to reaching her first final since Wimbledon in 2023 after beating Aryna Sabalenka in Berlin

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Marketa Vondrousova advanced to the final of the Berlin Tennis Open after defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.

Vondrousova defeated the Belarusian to reach her first final since Wimbledon in 2023, when she won a maiden Grand Slam title at the All England Club.

The Czech star was sidelined with a shoulder injury from February until May, having returned at the French Open, where she made the third round.

After the win over Sabalenka in Berlin, Vondrousova reacted to her feat and responded when asked if she’s playing her best tennis since winning it all in South West London two years ago.

Marketa Vondrousova reacts to defeating Aryna Sabalenka

In her on-court interview after the match, Vondrousova said: “I felt like I was the underdog yesterday, today also.

“She played great [Sabalenka], I couldn’t do much. I tried to stay in every point and tried to stay relaxed. It was a great last game.

On saving three break points at the end, she said: “I feel like on the grass you have to risk, and this was the point, so I was like ‘ok let’s try’.

“The match would’ve continued so I had to take the risk. I was feeling really well today, so I’m just happy and grateful.

When asked if she’s playing her best tennis since 2023, Vondrousova answered: “I don’t know, I didn’t play for a long time, so I’m just happy to be back healthy, and so grateful to play these matches.

“You know when I saw the field here, I was like, okay let’s try to win the first round [laughs], and now this is happening.”

Marketa Vondrousova’s career since winning Wimbledon in 2023

After her triumph at Wimbledon in 2023, Vondrousova made the quarter-finals of the US Open that year, where she bowed out to Madison Keys.

At the Australian Open the next season, however, she crashed out in the first round, and didn’t win more than three matches in a row until the French Open.

Vondrousova’s Wimbledon title defence ended in the first round, when she lost to Jessica Bouzas, which would be her last match of the year.

She didn’t play at another tournament in 2024 due to a shoulder injury, which she had surgery on in August that summer.

Following a promising start to the 2025 season upon return from injury, the 25-year-old took some more time off after the Dubai Tennis Championships due to continuing issues with her shoulder.