Anna Kalinskaya waits for her opponent in the final!
The first seeded, wavering favorite Coco Gauff (WTA rank 2) or the fourth seed Jessica Pegula (WTA rank 5)? Who will play the final of the ecotrans Ladies Open on Sunday against the unseeded surprise finalist Anna Kalinskaya (WTA rank 24)?
This question still has to be decided on Sunday from 12 noon at the grass court spectacle in the Steffi-Graf-Stadium of the LTTC "Rot-Weiß" e. V. in Berlin. Rain forced the dramatic semi-final match between the two US-Americans Gauff and Pegula to be abandoned on Saturday. At this point, Pegula had won the first set and was leading 3:1 in the tie-break of the second set. Then it was over. It was somehow a typical end to an extremely turbulent day of tennis in the sold-out Steffi Graf Stadium.
One way or another. Whoever makes it to the final, which will be played after the remaining semi-final: This final will conclude a week full of top performances and world-class tennis. "We have seen outstanding matches from outstanding players," said a delighted Tournament Director Barbara Rittner.
It was outstanding even when the match could not be finished at all. As was the case in the quarter-final duel between Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur, which was postponed from the rainy Friday to Saturday. "That was the best advertisement for women's tennis," said a delighted Barbara Rittner after Coco Gauff's magnificent 7-6 tie-break win over Jabeur in the first set. The two superstars had given their all, fending off several set points each and conjuring up some incredible rallies on the grass. In the end, Gauff took the set - and Jabeur had to retire. She had been ill for days. Now to compete was simply no longer possible. The spectators had a keen sense and bid Ons Jabeur farewell with a thunderous applause.
Gauff had to play in the semi-finals a little later. Against Jessica Pegula, the quarter-final winner over Katerina Siniakova (7:6, 3:6, 6:3). Pegula, who has won three of the four duels against Gauff so far, was a touch better until the match was stopped. After losing the first set, Gauff led 5:3 in the second and had a set point at 6:5. But Pegula fended this off and saved herself in the tie-break. There she was leading 3:1 at the break. Can Gauff still turn it around?
Anna Kalinskaya, who is waiting in the final, will watch it in peace. This also means that Aryna Sabalenka, the world number two seed in Berlin, remains without a grass court title in her magnificent career to date. Sabalenka was 1:5 down in the first set against Anna Kalinskaya in the quarter-finals. It was clearly visible that she was not fully fit: her right shoulder was causing problems. That's why Sabalenka gave up: bitter for the Australian Open winner. But for Kalinskaya it was the start of an excellent working day. Because she went on to defeat Victoria Azarenka 6:1, 6:7 and 6:1 in the semi-finals. Kalinskaya is the girlfriend of Jannik Sinner, the Italian world number one. "I'm trying to be just a little bit as good as him," she said with a laugh after reaching the final. Here in Berlin, this attempt is looking very good so far.
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will finish their semi-final on Sunday at 12 noon. After an appropriate break, the final will take place.
Hao-Ching Chan/Veronika Kudermetova will play the final of the doubles competition against Xinyu Wang/Saisai Zhen. This match will be played after the singles final and the subsequent award ceremony for the singles winner.