Muchova Rallies Past Sabalenka In French Open SF; Swiatek Holds Off Haddad Maia
Karolina Muchova played sparkling tennis for 90 minutes before world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka began to slowly take control. But the Czech wouldn’t be denied in an incredible 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5 in three hours, 13 minutes to reach he first Grand Slam final at the French Open.
In just their second meeting between these two first-time French semifinalists, Muchova matched Sabalenka for power and used her net game to gain an edge over the Belarussian.
Muchova would break for 5-4 and then hold a set point but Sabalenka rose up to the challenge. In the breaker, it was Muchova coming up with the goods.
She continued to play perfect tennis in the second going up 2-0 but it wouldn’t last. Sabalenka began to assert herself and get on offense. The tide was slowly shifting.
Breaks continued to be exchanged and in the breaker it was Sabalenka forcing the decider.
In the third, the Australian Open champion took charge, breaking for 4-2 and then holding for 5-2. Feeling the pressure and the power, Muchova would face a match point at 30-40. Sabalenka would not see another.
Fighting cramps in her right leg and with Sabalenka’s serve going off, Muchova rallied winning five straight games and eight of the last 10 points to stun Sabalenka.
“I was ready to leave it all out there,” Muchova said. “I did. At that moment, 2-5, I didn’t really know if I’ll make it or not. I was just thinking to try and then that she broke my serve and I can break her serve as well. I was trying to, yeah, trying to play every point and put her under pressure, try to get back into the game and mix it up with slices and don’t give her easy balls, because she was serving really well.
“I think that and emotionally here and there I had to let it out and scream a little bit. I was trying to keep myself calm during the whole match and to be in control of that. But then, yeah, it was crazy out there. I could hear the people and really it was helping me a lot the people around and the energy.”
Sabalenka came so close but couldn’t convert at the end as Muchova was a perfect 5-for-5 on break chances.
“You’re always facing some challenges and I definitely have to learn something from this match and come back stronger,” Sabalenka said.
“I think what I was doing and hopefully I will keep doing it this season, that’s incredible, just next level. I don’t look at this tournament as negative tournament. I think I did great improvement on the clay court, and it’s my best result here.”
The 26-year-old Muchova is now an incredible 5-0 against Top 3 players. And up next, she’ll meet another in buzzsaw Iga Swiatek.
The top seeded Swiatek held on to her No. 1 ranking and held off a game Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 7-6(9-7) to reach her third French Open title match.
“It’s really amazing,” Swiatek said. “Honestly, it’s just tough to play a long tournament. I’m really happy I’m able to play consistently. I’m pretty excited to play another day and see how it’s going to go.”
The Brazilian playing in her first Slam semifinal — she had never been past the second round before — broke Swiatek at love to start the match before Swiatek tore through the opener.
Down a set was familiar territory for the lefty who came back from such a situation in her last three matches. And she was up to the task. Haddad Maia dug in powered up her big serve and forehand and began to push Swiatek around.
Haddad Maia would go up a break but Swiatek would level quickly for 3-all. Swiatek escaped danger serving 4-all, 15-40.
In the breaker serving 5-3, Haddad Maia missed a fairly open volley that would have given her 6-3 and three set points. Swiatek would fight back with her speed and forehand, saving a set point at 6-5 and then taking the match.
“She used the fact she’s lefty and she has a very nice game for a clay court with a lot of top spin. It wasn’t easy, she’s a fighter, so I knew I had to be ready for every game because the momentum can change pretty quickly,” she said. “I’m happy I played so well in the tiebreak, I’m glad I was solid. I tried to push on every point. I’m happy that it worked.”
Swiatek has now won her last 11 matches at the French Open and avenges a third round loss to Haddad Maia from last summer in Toronto.
Muchova, who made the 2021 Australian Open semifinal, left the French last year with an ankle injury in a match against Amanda Anismova. Now she’ll try to take down the Top 2 and win her first Grand Slam title.
“There has been many moments, many lows, I would say, from one injury to another. For sure when I missed Australian Open last year, and I was in a pretty bad state health-wise, I was working out a lot to try to get back,” Muchova said.
“You never know. Some doctors told me, you know, maybe you’ll not do sport anymore. But I always kept it kind of positive in my mind and tried to work and do all the exercises to be able to come back.”
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