Karolina Muchova sinks higher-ranked Aryna Sabalenka to enter China Open semi-finals
Karolina Muchova, ranked 49th in the world, pulled off an upset by defeating top seed Aryna Sabalenka. The much lower-ranked player than Sabalenka who is the current World No. 2 defeated the reigning US Open champion in a thrilling three-set match to advance to the semi-finals of the China Open on Friday. The Czech secured a 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 victory and will now face either China's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen or 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva for a spot in the final. In the other semi-final in Beijing, last year's US Open champion Coco Gauff is set to face Spain's former world number two Paula Badosa.
Karolina Muchova stuns Aryna Sabalenka at the China Open
Aryna Sabalenka, ranked world number two currently, had been riding a 15-match winning streak when she met Muchova at the China Open. On her way to the WTA 1000 Beijing Tour, Sabalenka had picked titles at the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, recorded as her first victory at the Grand Slam event. However, at the China Open, Sabalenka scripted her quarter-final clash against Karolina Muchova. The top-ranked Belarusian fields a subpar record against Muchova. Sabalenka has struggled against Muchova in the past, and this match was no exception. Just a year ago, Muchova was ranked inside the top 10 before an injury setback.
The US Open semi-finalist had triumphed over Sabalenka in their last two meetings, both of which had gone to a deciding set. The China Open match on Friday was similarly close, as Muchova thrashed Sabalenka in the semi-final deciding clash of the season. With this defeat, Sabalenka's hopes of overtaking Iga Swiatek at the top of the rankings were also dashed. Sabalenka was ahead 4-2 in the final set and appeared poised to reach the semi-finals, but Muchova mounted a comeback.
"The conditions here are so tough, it can go one way or the other. There was a couple of great returns from her, she got the momentum and started playing more aggressively," said Sabalenka after the defeat. "It was a really high-level match and she played some unbelievable tennis," she added as she lauded her opponent.
The match began with Aryna Sabalenka facing three break points, but she held her ground. The US Open title champion then created an opportunity on Muchova's serve at 2-1, only to see the Czech resist. Sabalenka, known for her powerful shots, had a set point on Muchova's serve at 5-4 but missed it by sending her forehand wide.
Karolina Muchova double-faulted to give Sabalenka another chance to take the first set, but Sabalenka could not capitalize on it again. Muchova eventually had two set points in the tiebreak, converting the second after a thrilling rally to take the first set. It was the first set that the 26-year-old Sabalenka had lost since the third round at the US Open.
Getting over the fumble of the first set, Aryna Sabalenka began the second set strongly where she secured an early break to lead 2-1. The Belarusian then added another break point to comfortably win the set. Consequently, the semi-final clash came down to the deciding set. In the subsequent set, both players struggled to hold serve, but Karolina Muchova, who had earlier seemed to struggle against Sabalenka's powerful shots, found her rhythm and secured the match after two hours and 46 minutes of play.
"I was really close to winning today, but things didn't go my way and I can only be proud of myself," Sabalenka expressed after her exit from the WTA 100 event on Friday.
Just a year ago, the 28-year-old Karolina Muchova was ranked ninth globally, having made it to the French Open final and the semi-finals of the US Open. However, her 2023 season ended prematurely after the US Open due to wrist surgery, forcing her to take a nearly 10-month break before returning to the court this summer. Aryna Sabalenka has marked her exit from the China Open and is now on her way to feature in the Wuhan Open next week in her conquest to dethrone Iga Swiatek in the WTA rankings.
