Berlin Open: Aryna Sabalenka beaten by Jessica Pegula after losing third set 6-0

Aryna Sabalenka lost another deciding set without winning a game as an impressive Jessica Pegula beat the world number one to reach the Berlin Open final.

Belarusian Sabalenka never looked settled against Pegula, who recovered from losing a tight second set to come through 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-0.

American Pegula had lost five of her past six matches against Sabalenka but her flat shots and superb return of serve anchored her performance this time around.

For Sabalenka it is another disappointing deciding-set performance, having lost the third set of her French Open quarter-final 6-0 after squandering a set and double break lead.

Pegula had fought back from 5-2 down in the second set to force a tie-break and led 3-1 before rain delayed play for an hour.

When they returned, Sabalenka won six of the next seven points to force a deciding set – only for Pegula to dominate the top seed.

“She came out and ripped a bunch of winners and I told myself ‘I guess I wanted to win in the hard way anyway’,” Pegula, 32, said.

“I don’t get super emotional. People used to tell me when I was younger that I need to yell more and jump up and down.

“Honestly, it feels like a waste of energy to me. I just try to be myself.”

Pegula will face Linda Noskova in Sunday’s final after the Czech beat Alexandra Eala of the Philippines 6-2 6-4.