Aryna Sabalenka suffered a spectacular third-set collapse as Jessica Pegula stunned the world number one with a 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 win in the Berlin Open semi-finals.

A well-timed rain delay looked like it might save Sabalenka, who was one set down and behind 3-1 in a second-set tie-break when the weather interfered in Germany.

Sabalenka's game had been error-strewn up to that point, and she let out a huge cry of frustration after double-faulting shortly before the heavens opened to pause the tie-break.

A two-hour, 19-minute delay looked to have served Sabalenka well as she came out a player transformed, winning six of the next seven points to force a deciding set.

But the momentum suddenly switched again, with Pegula showing her class to clinch a stunning bagel and tee up a final meeting with Linda Noskova or Alexandra Eala.

The third seed was put under pressure in her first service game of the third set, but she only dropped one further point on serve while breaking at every opportunity, converting her third match point when Sabalenka's attempted forehand up the line rippled the net.

Pegula eyes second Berlin crown after eye-catching win

Pegula won one of her 11 WTA Tour titles in Berlin, defeating Anna Kalinskaya in the 2024 showpiece match, which is one of two grass-court titles she has won (also Bad Homburg in 2025).

But as she gears up for a tilt at Wimbledon – which has historically been her worst slam – Pegula is looking good on the grass.

She is just the fifth player aged 30+ to claim three victories over the world number one since the WTA Rankings were first published back in 1975.

And it is an illustrious list of players to join, with only Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert (both five), Serena Williams and Virginia Wade (three each) previously doing so.

Pegula saved six of the seven break points she saved, while converting five of 16 opportunities she forged for herself. She won 110 of the 200 total points in the match, while her 66% of points won on serve put her comfortably clear of Sabalenka's 55%.