Serena Williams suffered a surprising defeat in the Berlin quarterfinals, losing to Elena Rybakina in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. The loss casts doubt on her preparation for the upcoming French Open. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka had a comparatively smooth path, defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova to secure her place in the semifinals. Osaka demonstrated strong form, continuing her impressive run after recent struggles with injury and mental health. Rybakina’s victory marks a significant upset, as Williams was considered a favorite to win the tournament. Both players are using the Berlin event as key preparation for the French Open, which begins later this month. Osaka will now face Petra Kvitova in the semifinals.