Karolina Muchova appears to be rediscovering her best game and now she is very excited about the challenge of facing in-form Aryna Sabalenka and trying to continue her winning streak against the world No. 2.
Through four matches played in Beijing, the Czech hasn't lost a set - and to make it all more impressive - she has dropped a total of 12 games in eight sets played so far. On Wednesday, the latest victim was Cristina Bucsa, who the 28-year-old destroyed 6-2 6-0.
Now, everything is set for a big quarterfinal showdown between the former world No. 8 and No. 1 seed Sabalenka. After winning back-to-back titles in Cincinnati and the US Open, the Belarusian has also won her first three matches at the China Open and she is now on a 15-match winning streak.
But while the three-time Grand Slam champion is playing extraordinarily, Muchova is also in great form and it should be noted that she beat the world No. 2 twice last year - including that stunning comeback win at the 2023 French Open.
"It's going to be nice to get that challenge and see again, to compare my game to hers. It's what tennis is about. Where do you get more learning experience than when you challenge the best? So I'm really grateful for that opportunity," the Czech told WTA Insider.
Muchova feeling 'confident' ahead of the Sabalenka matchup
After being out of action for 10 months due to a brutal wrist injury, the 2023 French Open runner-up kicked off her 2024 season just in June. Since then, she has taken part in seven tournaments and has already had three deep runs, including this week's run to the Beijing quarterfinal.
Following a runner-up finish at the WTA 500 tournament in Palermo, Muchova also enjoyed a strong US Open run and made back-to-back semifinals there. Now in her first post-US Open event, she has continued with her fine form and has won nine of her last 10 matches.
"I think the US Open helped me a lot. I had good matches, had to get through some tough battles as well. I had a practice set there before the tournament with Iga [Swiatekl] that really helped me a lot, to see how I could do and deal. Then, once you get a few matches under your belt, it always helps me with the confidence. Then with the wrist, I felt could play free again and swing fully. I'm glad I picked it up that fast," the current world No. 49 said.
Do you remember what Muchova pulled off vs Sabalenka in the French Open SF?
A year and a half ago, the Czech made her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros and it came in a pretty stunning way. Going into her semifinal matchup versus the Belarusian, she was considered the underdog.
While the 28-year-old competed pretty well throughout the match, it looked like she was finally done after Sabalenka opened a 5-2 lead in the third set. But then, Muchova impressively saved a set point on her serve in the eighth game - claimed back-to-back breaks - and finished the match on a five-game run to seal a 7-6 (5) 6-7 (5) 7-5.
"Well, emotions, it's been a roller coaster of, 2-5 in the third, but I still kind of knew it's just one break and I was waiting for my chances. It happened. It happened. I managed to break Aryna and then hold my serve. Then, you never know what's going to happen. I just try to play point by point. Yeah, super glad that I turn it around and then managed to win the match," Muchova said after her stunning comeback in Paris.
When the Czech found herself 2-5 down and facing a match point, there probably wasn't many who thought she could turn it around. But exactly that happened.
"Facing a match point, I was on a serve and I was focusing honestly on another point and try to put great serve, and that worked. So I didn't really think of it much like to put any pressure like that's a match point, just another point, put a huge focus. Yeah, I just tried to focus on my serve. I think I served well, and it kind of helped me to win this point. Then throughout all the match I think I could, here and there, I could really rely on my serve, and it helped me to get out of some crucial moments in the match," Muchova explained.
Also, the former world No. 8 ended on the winning side when they clashed on the hard courts of Cincinnati in the summer of 2023. It remains to be seen if Muchova can upset Sabalenka again and beat the former world No. 1 for a third consecutive time.
