Can Jessica Pegula Win Wimbledon?

Probably, right? Also, a Sabalenka no-show in Berlin, both on the scoreboard and in the press room.

BERLIN, Germany — Let’s start with two things that didn’t happen on Saturday in Berlin.

The first thing that didn’t happen: WTA No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka winning a game in the third set.

For the second tournament in a row, top-ranked Sabalenka exited with a bagel to-go, blanked in the third set of her WTA 500 Berlin semifinal against Jessica Pegula, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-0.

Aryna Sabalenka, doubled over on Saturday before a second bagel arrived. (Photo by Jimmie48)

Sabalenka also, memorably, lost ten games in a row to end her French Open quarterfinal loss to Diana Shnaider earlier this month.

How Aryna Sabalenka Blew It in the Wind

I combed Tennis Abstract for context on just how rare this back-to-back bageling might be.

Here’s what I found: in the history of WTA No. 1s, which dates back just over 50 years, the No. 1 player has lost a set 6-0 only 16 times.¹ (Three of those times, she rallied to win the match after being bageled.)

Further, the No. 1 player has lost a third set 0-6 just five times. This makes sense, I think: you wouldn’t expect a great player to disappear from a competitive match. Two of those five times—40 percent of them—were Sabalenka in June 2026.

After her loss to Shnaider, Sabalenka memorably said in her post-match press conference that she “just want(ed) to quit tennis right now.”

What did she say this time?

Well, that brings me to the second thing that didn’t happen on Saturday in Berlin: Aryna Sabalenka’s post-match press conference.

To read what happened in Berlin—as well as a deep-dive appraisal of Jessica Pegula’s chances of winning the big one on grass at Wimbledon, please subscribe to Bounces! -Ben