World number one Aryna Sabalenka's wait for a singles title on grass goes on after losing in the Berlin last four to Jessica Pegula on Saturday.
Her US rival, looking for a second Berlin crown, won 6-4, 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 as Sabalenka's struggles on the surface ahead of Wimbledon starting a week on Monday were again laid bare.
A two-hour break due to rain in the middle of the second set tie-break, with Pegula leading 3-1, seemed to give the Belarusian the chance to gather herself after a mixed first set.
The four-time Grand Slam singles champion hit back to win the second set tie-break but was then blown away by the third seed in the decider.
Pegula said: "That was high level. It's really tough coming out and losing the tie-break. I feel like she came out and ripped a bunch of winners and I just wanted to tell myself that I wanted to win it the hard way anyways. I guess I did."
Sabalenka is without any title since March and also lost a set to love against Diana Shnaider when she crashed out at the French Open earlier this month.
Czech eighth seed Linda Nosková beat Filipino Alexandra Eala 6-2, 6-4 in the second semi-final at the Steffi Graf Stadium in the German capital.
