By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, September 4, 2024

 

World No. 52 Karolina Muchova overcome an upset stomach and distraught Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-4 reaching her second straight US Open semifinal.

Photo credit: Garrett Ellwood/US Open/USTA

NEW YORK—Injury and illness have haunted Karolina Muchova in past majors.

Today, Muchova delivered all-court antidote advancing to her second straight US Open semifinal with a 6-1, 6-4 sweep of Brazilian Beatriz Haddad-Maia in an emotional test on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

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Stifling a stomach bug and tricky lefty opponent with forehand winners, slice backhands and a forward attack, Muchova won 16 of 23 trips to the net. The world No. 52 whipped several forehand strikes down the line to break open points.

On match point, Muchova slashed an ace sealing a 10th win in her last 11 Flushing Meadows matches.



“I’m really happy,” Muchova told Pam Shriver in her on-court interview. “I wouldn’t say that before the tournament. Every round is very tough here. I’m sure [the semifinals are] going to be a tough and exciting match.”

While the first two games of this quarterfinal on a sun-splashed Arthur Ashe Stadium Court were tight, the final three games were a bit bizarre. Muchova left court for a sudden bathroom break before a flush-faced Haddad Maia suffered an apparent panic attack and received attention from the tournament doctor.

“Yeah, I'm fighting bug a little bit. I'm a little sick," Muchova told the media. "I hope it didn't disturb anyone. It never happened to me before, but I really needed to go off the court when I get a chance to go.

"Again, I hope it didn't disturb her, didn't disturb the people. But I actually don't do these things, I don't like to do it, but I had no other choice than to take, yeah, use a bathroom. That's it."




Afterward, Haddad Maia said the massive size of Ashe Stadium and magnitude of the moment were unnerving.

"It was more emotional from my side. As I said, it's tennis," Haddad Maia said. "Sometimes we have some things on and off court that can bother us, but yeah, today was my fault. Like, I couldn't concentrate.

"It was my first time on Ashe. It's different. It's huge. It's, like, noise. That's no excuse."

The 2023 French Open finalist Muchova will play the winner of tonight’s quarterfinal between world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and two-time Canadian Open champion Jessica Pegula for a spot in Saturday’s 4 p.m. final.

A spirited Swiatek won three straight games edging Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to capture her third Roland Garros crown in the last four years and fourth major championship at the 2023 Roland Garros.

A superb final ended on a soft note as Muchova double-faulted on championship point ending a gripping two hour, 46-minute final.

It's been a revival run for Muchova, who reached a career-high rank of No. 8 last season, but then pulled the plug due to a nagging right wrist injury. Muchova underwent right wrist surgery last February and said she's solidified self-belief returning to the semifinals.

"The wrist surgery, was one of the most, one of the worst ones that I had," Muchova said. "Yeah, now looking back, I'm, like, oh, it actually flew by, the time, and I feel strong again.

"But when I go back to February I have to say I wasn't always that positive. It was tough moments honestly when I couldn't move the arm and couldn't do much. But, yeah, it's few bad days, and then I always try to just regroup and focus on the step that I could do, what's the first step I can do towards recovery."

The Czech standout is the rare singles player who can and will play serve-and-volley on almost any point. She had not lost a serve-and-volley point since the second round. But Muchova netted a short volley to face break point. She saved it then snapped off a serve winner working through a five-minute hold to open this quarterfinal.

The left-handed Brazilian fought off 13 of 16 break points in her three-set win over former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round. At the outset, Muchova was attacking the Haddad Maia second serve earning five break points in her first service game.

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Flicking a drop shot that splashed onto the top of the tape and dripped over like a rain drop off a window pane, Muchova drew appreciative roar from the pro-Haddad Maia crowd.

Running around her backhand, Muchova mashed an inside-out forehand drawing the stretched error to break for 2-0. Muchova confirmed the break for a 3-0 lead after 18 minutes.

Tugging on her vanilla visor, Haddad Maia couldn’t control her forehand drive consistently falling into a triple break point. The Brazilian saved the first two, but Muchova lined up her forehand and cracked it down the line, Sinner style, scoring her second straight break for 4-0 after 26 minutes.

A free-flowing Muchova stamped a love hold for 5-0.

Thirty-two minutes into the match, Haddad Maia held to finally get on the board.

The world No. 52 served out an impressive 35-minute opening set with command. Muchova served 85 percent, won 15 of 21 first-serve points and beat Haddad Maia with her movement, slithering slice backhand, crackling forehand down the line and all-court attack. It was the seventh set Muchova won in eight sets the pair have played.

Realizing she couldn’t run with the ultra-athletic Muchova, Haddad Maia tried shortening up the points at the start of the second set. The Brazilian burst through a love hold for a 2-1 lead trotting to her court-side seat looking re-energized as Muchova departed for a bathroom break.

Returning to the court, Muchova again imposed her athleticism. Stretching the Brazilian wide, Muchova dropped to deep squat—Aga Radwanska-style—and blocked a backhand winner down the line breaking for 3-2 at the one-hour mark.



Muchova, who appeared to be battling some illness at that point, scored the third straight break of the set for a 4-3 lead then took a visit from the trainer, Lauren Quinn, who gave her a tablet. Muchova held for 5-3 when Haddad Maia pressed the blue towel to her face, paced slowly to her seat and asked chair umpire Kelly Rask for a medical timeout.

The tournament doctor checked Haddad Maia’s breathing and after a few minute exam she returned to action and held serve.

Jamming a 107 mph serve winner into the corner brought Muchoa double match point. Muchova zapped an ace down the T then thrust her arms in triumph after a masterful close to an 85-minute victory.

Karolina Muchova v. Beatriz Haddad Maia US Open Quarterfinal

Key Stat
Karolina Muchova won 29 of 37 first-serve points (78 percent) and saved two of three break points improving to 4-0 lifetime vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Turning Point
Karolina Muchova saved two break points in the opening game then converted her fifth break point breaking for a 2-0 lead. She never trailed.

Impact Point
Though she owns just one career title, the 2023 French Open finalist Karolina Muchova is now one win from her second career Grand Slam final—and first US Open final.

What’s Next?
Karolina Muchova will play the winner of tonight’s quarterfinal between world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and two-time Canadian Open champion Jessica Pegula for a spot in Saturday’s 4 p.m. US Open final.