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Vondroušová triumphs in Berlin as another Wimbledon tilt awaits

Former Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová warmed up for this year's event in perfect style by winning the Berlin Open on Sunday.

The Czech beat Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu 7-6 (12-10), 4-6, 6-2 for only her third career title following the shock Wimbledon success in 2023 and a 2017 triumph in Biel/Bienne.

She heads back to the London grass grand slam starting on June 30 in fine form.

The 25-year-old was a break down in the opening set but hit back for 5-5, only for both to then lose serve again before the tie-break. Wang stormed ahead in the tie-break but Vondroušová fought back to eventually prevail.

The pair, who had never met previously, exchanged breaks of serve at the start of the second set before the Chinese player pulled away.

But Vondroušová, now the world number 164, had the upper hand in the decider and overall seized five of her six break points.

The unseeded Vondroušová had reached her first final since winning Wimbledon after defeating top seed Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday's semi-finals.

The Czech, who has a silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and was runner-up at the French Open in 2019, was the first women's unseeded champion at Wimbledon two years ago.

She was knocked out in the first round as defending champion last year.

Wang, 23, was in her first WTA Tour final having lost her previous six semi-finals.

She had served notice by beating second seed Coco Gauff in the last 16 but failed to take her chances in the final, converting just four of nine break points.

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