WTA Berlin: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar swept Paulini, Samsonova beat Pegula in a thrilling battle

On June 18, local time, the WTA500 Berlin station started the second round of the showdown, in a marathon battle that lasted 3 hours and 21 minutes, 2021 champion Samsonova saved two match points and reversed the defending champion and No. 3 seed Pegula 6-7(8)/7-5/7-6(5). The tie was the fifth-longest game of the season and tied with Casakina's 3-hour and 21-minute win over Stearns in the first round in Brisbane.

Two-time Wimbledon runner-up Abdul-Jabbar swept past fourth seed Paulini 6-1, 6-3 to claim his first top-5 win in nearly two years. Despite retiring from Miami this year due to injury and suffering three straight defeats against the Italians, Jabeur holds a winning streak against his opponents on grass (including the first round in Eastbourne 2023).

Abdul-Jabbar data map

Jabbar started from the qualifying round in this Berlin station, and after losing to Wang Xinyu in the decisive round, Jabbar was lucky to lose the women's singles main draw due to the withdrawal of someone in the draw.

In a top-10 matchup, eighth seed Badosa beat Navarro 7-6(2), 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals, and she will now await the winner between Gauff and Wang Xinyu. Top-seeded Sabalenka's second-round clash with qualifier Masarova was suspended late in the morning, with the Belarusian postponing the match to Thursday after taking a 6-2 set.

(Text, Editor/Faye Wong, Photo/Visual China)