Karolína Muchová, ranked 49th, delivered a stunning performance on Friday, knocking out top seed Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set match to advance to the semi-finals of the China Open. Muchová triumphed with scores of 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 6-4.
The Czech player will face either China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen or 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva for a chance to compete in the final. In the other semi-final matchup, last year’s US Open champion Coco Gauff is set to take on former world number two Paula Badosa.
Sabalenka, the world number two, had been on a remarkable 15-match winning streak, having recently claimed titles in Cincinnati and the US Open. However, she faced challenges against Muchová, who was once ranked in the top 10 before an injury sidelined her last season.
The match proved to be tightly contested, reminiscent of their previous encounters that had gone the distance. Despite facing three break points early on, Sabalenka managed to hold her serve, while Muchová also stood firm against the Belarusian’s powerful game.
In a pivotal moment during the first set, Sabalenka had a set point on Muchová’s serve at 5-4 but missed the opportunity with a forehand error. Muchová then seized the moment, winning two set points in the tiebreak, clinching the first set and marking the first set Sabalenka had dropped since the third round of the US Open.
Sabalenka rebounded in the second set, breaking Muchová’s serve to take a 2-1 lead and ultimately winning the set with relative ease. The deciding set saw both players struggle to hold serve, but Muchová, who had previously appeared to falter under Sabalenka’s power, rallied to secure the match after two hours and 46 minutes of intense play.
Muchová’s journey has been remarkable, considering her absence from the game due to wrist surgery which kept her sidelined for nearly 10 months following the US Open last year.
