Marta KOSTYUK clinches final spot after exhilarating victory over Marketa VONDROUSOVA

Marta Kostyuk (No. 27) continues her spectacular form after defeating Marketa Vondrousova (No. 7) 7-6(2), 6-2 and advancing to the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The Ukrainian is in her second final in the last three tournaments she has played.

The 21-year-old secured her third consecutive victory over a top-10 player, after saving four match points against Zheng Qinwen and turning around a 3-6, 2-4 deficit against Coco Gauff. The title showdown will be against world No. 4 Elena Rybakina, who defeated the 2-times defending champion Iga Swiatek.

Kostyuk had a strong performance from the start of the match. The Ukrainian saved a couple of break points in her first service game, but then took absolute control of the set. Without facing too many problems on her serve, Kostyuk reached a 5-1 lead, thanks to two consecutive breaks, but couldn't close out the set.

She wasted three set points on her serve and then allowed Vondrousova back into the match, who returned the breaks to level at 5-5. Both played their last service games well to take it to the tie-break, where Kostyuk prevailed with a resounding 7-2 without conceding any points on her serve.

In the second set, the start was again in favor of Kostyuk, who once again seized the first break point she had to take the lead. Kostyuk showed good service games and didn't give the 2023 Wimbledon champion a chance to regain advantages. A second break in the sixth game sealed the match, which ended in a 7-6(2), 6-2 victory for Kostyuk.

Now the Ukrainian will face Elena Rybakina in the title match. The Kazakh ended Iga Swiatek's flawless streak in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and guaranteed that there will be a new champion in Stuttgart.