Markéta Vondroušová is officially back. After battling injuries and falling out of the spotlight, the 25-year-old Czech tennis star pulled off a gritty, emotional win in Berlin, taking down qualifier Wang Xinyu in a three-set rollercoaster that showed grit, grace, and maybe even a little Wimbledon warning for the rest of the tour.
The final score: 7–6 (12–10), 4–6, 6–2. But the numbers don’t tell the full story. What Vondroušová showed Saturday was heart—and a reminder of what made her Wimbledon champion in the first place.
A Comeback That Feels Different
Vondroušová hasn’t had the smoothest ride since her Wimbledon triumph last summer. A shoulder injury and months away from the tour pushed her out of the top 100. Confidence was shaky. Timing was off. But something clicked in Berlin.
“I’ve been trying to get my rhythm back. Honestly, I didn’t expect this,” she said after the match, still trying to catch her breath and wipe the clay off her arms. “This week just kind of came together.”
And it really did. One by one, she knocked off big names—Madison Keys, then Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1. With each match, she moved more freely. Her drop shots hit just a bit tighter. Her serves found the corners. Her belief returned.
A Final Full of Twists and Tension
Wang Xinyu wasn’t supposed to be in the final either. The 22-year-old from China fought through qualifying, then took down a string of top-tier players. She looked fearless—and she played that way, too.
The first set was pure drama. Vondroušová faced six set points in the tiebreak and saved them all, eventually snatching it 12–10 with a gutsy backhand pass. But Wang didn’t fade. She regrouped and took the second set 6–4, capitalizing on a few nervous errors and making the crowd wonder if the fairy tale might be flipped.
But in the third, it was all Vondroušová. She steadied. She simplified. She took control. Her forehand clicked, her defense held, and Wang began to fade. Six games later, the Czech was on her back, arms raised, tears in her eyes.
More Than a Trophy
This wasn’t just a title—it was proof. Proof that she’s still a force on grass, just as Wimbledon looms. And a reminder that experience, timing, and calm under pressure matter just as much as power.
The Berlin Open win gives her a much-needed ranking boost, lifting her nearly 90 spots to around No. 73. More importantly, it gives her the confidence—and the wildcard momentum—heading into Wimbledon, where she’ll try to defend her crown with a bit of fire back in her eyes.
Praise for the Runner-Up
For Wang Xinyu, this was a career week. Her first WTA final. Her biggest paycheck. Her biggest spotlight. And while she didn’t take the trophy, she did leave with a statement: she belongs here.
“She played amazing this week,” Vondroušová said, standing beside her at the trophy ceremony. “I had to fight for every point.”
Wang was composed, gracious. “This week changed a lot for me,” she told the crowd. “Thank you for believing in me.”
What Comes Next
With Berlin behind her, Vondroušová heads into Wimbledon with a whole new storyline. No longer the defending champ under pressure—now, she’s the comeback queen with momentum. Grass is her friend. The draw is wide open. And suddenly, she’s a name to circle again.
