Pegula powers to first grass-court title in Berlin

Jessica Pegula saved five match points against Anna Kalinskaya to win her first title on grass in the Wimbledon warm-up WTA tournament in Berlin on Sunday.

Fourth seed Pegula pulled through 6-7 (0/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) after earlier ousting top seed Coco Gauff in the semifinal which had been suspended overnight.

Five championship points saved 🙅‍♀️🙅‍♀️🙅‍♀️🙅‍♀️🙅‍♀️

Five Hologic WTA Tour titles won 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆@JPegula is the 2024 #ecotransLadiesOpen champ in Berlin! pic.twitter.com/jdNhkvmfH8

— wta (@WTA) June 23, 2024

Pegula had been leading fellow American Gauff 7-5, 6-6 (3/1) when semifinal action was halted on Saturday night.

She returned to court on Sunday morning to win four of five points to oust doubles partner Gauff 7-5, 7-6 (7/2) and reach her first grass-court final.

"Jess, you're such a fighter, it's nice to see you back on tour," said Kalinskaya after her second defeat in as many meetings with the American.

The victory came in Pegula's second tournament of her comeback from the rib injury that forced her out of the European clay-court season.

Berlin is Pegula's fifth career title and first since winning in Seoul last year.

Lifting the Berlin Bear 🐻🇩🇪@JPegula has her first career title on grass! 🏆🌱#ecotransLadiesOpen pic.twitter.com/DUBjAL6ZN4

— wta (@WTA) June 23, 2024

Kalinskaya lost to Pegula in their only previous meeting in the Washington semifinals in 2019, with the American advancing to win her first title that week.

On Saturday, Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur joined the procession of injured stars limping off the grass in the Wimbledon warm-up event.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova also retired with a right hip injury during the week with former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina also withdrawing.