Photo credit: Berlin Tennis Open Facebook
Grass-court deficits are launching pads for Liudmila Samsonova’s rising returns.
In a clash of the current and former Berlin champions, Samsonova saved two match points dethroning defending champion Jessica Pegula 6-7(8), 7-5, 7-6(5) in an epic Berlin Tennis Open triumph.
The three hour, 21-minute marathon was one of the longest battles on the WTA Tour this season.
"Maybe with the adrenaline right now, I’m OK," Samsonova Andrea Petkovic in her on-court interview afterward. "But I think later it’s not going to be so OK."
The 2021 champion slammed 18 aces against two double faults—Samsonova has hit 32 aces in her last two matches—and saved six of eight break points.
An athletic, powerful player, Samsonova sometimes struggles to control her devastating drives. Not today.
Under intense pressure in the final set, Samsonova struck some of her biggest shots and did not back down against the world No. 3 to score her fourth Top 10 win of the year. Samsonova will face either Queen’s Club finalist Amanda Anisimova or Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals.
Yesterday, Samsonova fought off four-time major champion Naomi Osaka 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 in two hours, 36 minutes.
Today, Samsonova showed her power of perseverance again.
Despite squandering five set points in the opener, including a couple of set points where she had good looks at near open-court opportunities, Samsonova did not flinch in the face of pressure or the flat-hitting US Open champion.
Samsonova converted her second break point of the second set to take a 6-5 lead. She served out the set at 15 to force a decider.
The Samsonova forehand, when it’s firing with accuracy, is one of the biggest in the sport.
The world No. 20 was cracking forehands into the corners as she cashed in her fourth break point to go up 3-2 in the final set. Samsonova dug in denying three break points to confirm the break for 4-2.
The third-seeded Pegula powered back with a three-game burst, saving three break points along the way, as she took a 5-4 lead.
Under immense pressure, Samsonova saved both match points on her serve at 4-5, prevailing in a tense 14-point game to level it again.
Whipping the wide serve to open the court, Samsonova went up 3-0 in the tiebreaker.
The defending champion wasn’t done. Pegula rallied from 2-5 down with three points in a row to again level it.
The Samsonova forehand was the key stroke today. Drilling a diagonal forehand gave her match point at 6-5.
Samsonova created space with a crackling forehand then fired one final forehand down the line sealing her fourth Top 10 win of the year with a wide smile and arms raised in triumph.
Two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur dismissed 2024 Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-3.
Lucky loser Jabeur posted her first Top 10 victory in two years.
The 2022 Berlin champion Jabeur will play either left-hander Diana Shnaider or 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, in what would be a Wimbledon final rematch, next.
No. 8-seeded Paula Badosa beat US Open semifinalist Emma Navarro 7-6(2), 6-3. Badosa could meet Roland Garros champion Coco Gauff if the two-time Grand Slam champion wins her opener.