Jessica Pegula regrouped after losing a tiebreaker and denied Aryna Sabalenka the chance at a first final since March with a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-0 Saturday win into the final of the WTA Berlina event.

The American who had lost nine of a dozen previous matches to Sabalenka, handed the world No. 1 a love set after Sabalenka was eliminated in the Roland Garros quarter-finals this month with another “bagel.”

Pegula, ranked fourth in the world, said it is just in her nature to stay calm under pressure, which she did after dropping the tiebreaker to come roaring back to claim victory.

Sabalenka played her last final in Miami three months ago, winning that Masters title

“It was a high-level match< the winner said. “After losing that tiebreak I told myself that I had wanted to win it the hard way anyway.

“I’m pretty laid back and composed, I like to stay aware of the situation. I don’t get super-emotional. 

“When I was younger I thought I needed to yell and jump around more.”

The match was paused for nearly two and a half hours by rain in the German federal capital in the tiebreaker, with Pegula leading 3-1.

But Sabalenka managed to squeeze it out, winning six of seven points to square the semi-final.

Pegula unleashed in the final set, with Sabalenka netting on her opponent’s thrd match point.

“She tries to control the shots, doesn’t back down and plays fearlessly,” Pegula said of the WTA No. 1. “Every time we play, we bring out the best in each other.

“Our last matches have been very close.”

Aryna Sabalenka rallied to reach her first semi-final since Miami last March as she called on her “little tiger” to salvage a 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 fightback win over Czech Nikola Bartunkova.

The 20-year-old challenger ranked 62nd was playing only her third WTA quarter-final and gave the world No. 1 plenty of trouble.

Sabalenka won her ninth match of the season over players ranked outside the top 50, but she had to work to get it done in a rollicking final set with five breaks of serve.

“There was a little bit of frustration going on,” the winner said of the third set. “I was really not sure.

“But I tried to find the little tiger inside of me,” the player with a tiger tattoo on her arm said.

“I was not trying for winners as much as trying to stay aggressive.”‘

In the deciding set, Bsrtunkova twice came back from a break down as tension mounted for Sabalenka.

The outsider was broken for 5-4, putting Sabalenka in position to finally serve it out after nearly two and a half hours.

“She played incredible tennis, it’s unbelievable what she is able to do,” Sabalenka said of her opponent. 

“I needed to show I had something left. I needed to find a rhythm to come back. She’s a future superstar for sure.”

Sabaelnka moved into a semi against Jessica Pegula, who beat US compatriot Madison Keys 7-6 (5), 7-6 (8).

“It will be a battle, I hope I can make it,” Sabalenka said.

The pair have not played this season, with Sabalenka winning three of their four meetings in 2025.

Wild card Alexandra Eala handed world No. 2 Elena Rybakina a 7-5, 6-4 upset loss on Thursday, sending the Kazakh out and booking the last of the quarter-final spots at the WTA Berlin event.

The Filipina sensation standing 35th beat the 2022 Wimbledon champion in 93 minutes, fending off 13 aces from the more experienced player/

The underdog won six of seven games while trailing 4-1 in the opening set to get straight into the fight.

Eala, winner of a grass Challenger title in the UK this month, earned her first match point while leading a break and 5-3, with Rybakina sending down a double-fault.

But the seed averted disaster with a winner to the corner only to find herself trailing again in the following game.

This time, Eala came good on her second winning chance as Rybakina delivered a return wide.  

Eala will face a Friday quarter-final against veteran Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.