Berlin Open: Jessica Pegula defeats Anna Kalinskaya for first grass title

Jessica Pegula saved five championship points as she defeated Anna Kalinskaya to win the Berlin Open and confirm her status as a Wimbledon title contender.

The American Pegula missed the European swing on the clay due to an injury and made her return to the playing field in the Netherlands last week.

She completed her rain-delayed semi-final for the first time on Sunday against doubles partner and second seed Coco Gauff, completing a quick 7-5 7-6 (7-2) win.

The world number five then had to find her way back against Russia’s Kalinskaya, overcoming a 4-1 deficit in the third set to win 6-7 (0-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3 ) to win.

It is Pegula’s fifth WTA Tour title and her first on grass.

Last year she reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, losing to eventual champion Marketa Vondrousova in three sets.

Pegula, 30, will play at the Eastbourne International before Wimbledon starts on July 1.

At the Birmingham Classic, Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan defeated Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1 7-6 (10-8) to win her first title on the grass court.

It was her first title in three years, and the past two victories have come on clay.

She fought back from a break down in the final set and converted on her third match point when Tomljanovic skewed a forehand wide.

“It’s my first one on grass and I don’t even know how I feel because I didn’t expect this to happen at all,” said the 29-year-old.

“It’s amazing but also confusing because I usually play my best tennis on the clay, and now suddenly I’m performing well on the grass – but I accept it!”

Tomljanovic was looking for her first WTA title, having lost her previous four finals.

It was her first final since an injury in 2023, which left her outside the top 100.