Rain halts Aryna Sabalenka's Berlin debut after dominant first set

Wednesday, 18 June 2025 at 20:57

Aryna Sabalenka's match against Rebeka Masarova at the Berlin Ladies Open has been suspended due to rain and will resume tomorrow. The World No. 1 was making her grass-swing debut but only managed to complete one set against the Swiss tennis player.

Sabalenka is playing her first tournament since her defeat in the Roland Garros final against Coco Gauff. She begins her grass-swing as the strong favorite to win the Wimbledon title in a couple of weeks, although her first challenge is in Berlin, where she aims to find her rhythm on the surface.

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So far, the start was positive for the Belarusian, who was facing World No. 112 Rebeka Masarova, a qualifier. The tennis player – who recently changed her Spanish passport to Swiss – had previously defeated Greece's Maria Sakkari and then Italy's Ella Seidel in the qualifying rounds. In her main draw debut, she surprisingly eliminated former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.

After three consecutive victories on grass courts, she faced the bigger challenge of taking on the World No. 1. It was a first set that quickly leaned in favor of the Belarusian, as she secured an early break on her first opportunity and then, in a hard-fought service game, extended her lead to 2-0.

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Masarova had some break chances in the set but could never convert them. She was serving at 2-5, 0-40, and managed to save several set points, but finally, the three-time Grand Slam champion took the set 6-2 after 40 minutes of play.

Once the set concluded, the rains intensified and prevented further play. The players waited for a few minutes for a decision to be made, and finally, the umpire decided to suspend the match until this Thursday, when the first-round encounter will be completed. The winner will face the victor between Katerina Siniakova and Elena Rybakina – who will also play their match tomorrow.

Sabalenka claims the set 💫

Due to court conditions the match will conclude tomorrow!#BTO pic.twitter.com/ZqcAW9Ni89
— wta (@WTA) June 18, 2025

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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