Wang Xinyu’s Grass-Court Breakthrough at Berlin Open
Berlin, Germany — China’s Wang Xinyu delivered a stellar performance at the WTA Berlin Open, finishing as runner-up after a fierce three-set battle against former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova on Sunday.
The 23-year-old from Shenzhen showcased her rising talent on grass courts, pushing Vondrousova to the limit before narrowly falling 7-6(10), 4-6, 6-2 in the championship match. This marks Wang’s first appearance in a grass-court final, highlighting her growing presence among the sport’s elite.
In a tightly contested opening set, Wang demonstrated great composure and powerful shot-making. She broke Vondrousova early with aggressive forehands and strong court positioning. Despite earning six set points in a tense tiebreaker, Wang was edged out 12-10.
Undeterred, Wang regained her focus in the second set, cutting down on unforced errors and capitalizing on her explosive forehand. She secured a crucial break in the tenth game to take the set 6-4.
In the deciding set, fatigue began to set in, but Wang continued to fight valiantly. Vondrousova’s experience and tactical play, including clever slices, proved decisive as she closed out the match.
After the match, Wang thanked the fans for their passionate support, calling the capacity crowd “amazing.” She also congratulated Vondrousova on her performance and shared a lighthearted moment with her team. “You know why I lost today? Because you [my team] sat in the other box,” she joked, drawing laughter from the audience. “It’s been an unbelievable week for us. We’ll keep building and look forward to the next one.”
Wang’s journey to the final was impressive. After advancing through two rounds of qualifying, she defeated World No. 16 Daria Kasatkina in the first round. In the last 16, she stunned newly crowned French Open champion and World No. 2 Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3, marking her first career victory against a top-two player.
Her success continued as she advanced past Paula Badosa, who retired due to injury after Wang took the first set 6-1 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Wang overpowered Liudmila Samsonova with a 6-4, 6-1 victory, securing her fourth consecutive win over a top-20 opponent during the tournament.
With her outstanding performance in Berlin, Wang will climb 16 spots to reach World No. 33 in the latest WTA rankings, signaling a promising future ahead.
