Karolina Muchova noted she was aware that just playing it safe against Aryna Sabalenka wouldn't get her far and also revealed that her mindset in the third set was to fight for every ball and hope that there would be an opening for her.
ADVERTISEMENT
On Friday, the current world No. 49 sent the top-seeded Belarusian packing out of Beijing and also ended after handing her a 7-6 (5) 2-6 6-4 quarterfinal loss.
In the opener, the Czech won after being inches away from dropping the set as she saved two set points in the 10th game before claiming a tight tie-break.
However, Sabalenka was able to lift her game and easily win the second set before also opening first a 2-0 and then a 4-2 lead in the decider. In those moments, Muchova was hanging by the thread.
But then, the reigning US Open champion started missing some shots and the 2023 French Open finalist took full advantage of it to claim back-to-back breaks - complete an upset win - and put an end to the Belarusian's streak of 15 consecutive wins.
ADVERTISEMENT
Muchova reflects on beating Sabalenka
"Very tough match -- basically what I expected. She's one of the best players playing her best tennis these days. You really have to be ready to attack, because if you slice slow ball or something she's really going to smash you. Second set I fell a little short. I felt a little down and she was just smashing it. I just tried to get through the second set, tried to regroup. Third set, I was just trying to fight for every ball. We've had some close battles, so I was trying to put every ball over the net and it was worth it in the end," the former world No. 8 explained.
Last year, Muchova also famously came back from 2-5 down in the third set of the 2023 French Open semifinal to beat Sabalenka. Since she also defeated the Belarusian in 2023 Cincinnati, she now has three consecutive wins over the world No. 2.
Meanwhile, Muchova is now set to battle against Zheng Qinwen for a place in the Beijing final.
