In a dramatic turn at the Berlin Open, Chinese qualifier Xinyu Wang advanced to the semifinals when No. 8 seed Paula Badosa of Spain was forced to retire due to injury at the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club on Friday. Wang, ranked No. 49, was leading 6-1, 0-0 when Badosa, ranked No. 10, withdrew from the match, sending shockwaves through the WTA 500 event.
Wang’s journey to the last four has been nothing short of remarkable. The Chinese star previously dispatched Australian Daria Kasatkina with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory and stunned second seed Coco Gauff of the United States 6-3, 6-3 earlier in the tournament. Her fearless play on the grass courts of Berlin has solidified her as a rising force.
Badosa, meanwhile, had been in strong form before her untimely exit. The Spaniard cruised past German wildcard Eva Lys 6-1, 6-3 and battled through a tough 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over American Emma Navarro in earlier rounds. Her withdrawal marks a heartbreaking end to her Berlin campaign.
Wang now awaits the winner of the quarterfinal clash between American Amanda Anisimova and Russian Liudmila Samsonova as she prepares for her semifinal showdown at the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club.
Berlin WTA 500, Other Last-Eight Results (Rot-Weiss Tennis Club, Grass, EUR 925,661):
Results to be updated as matches conclude.