Karolina Muchova admitted she was nervous ahead of her US Open fourth-round match on Monday, but it turned out her worries were unfounded.
The Czech – finally fully healthy again after wrist surgery – defeated fifth-seeded Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-3 in just over an hour to advance to the quarterfinals.
Paolini had made it to the finals at both Wimbledon and the French Open, making this a surprise. However, it was a surprise on paper, not in reality.
Last year, Muchova reached the semifinals and final of the French Open here and reached her highest ranking to date of 8th place.
But wrist surgery cost her ten months. In a television interview on the pitch, she admitted that it was the “worst and most serious injury” in an eventful career.
Muchova finally returned to action in Eastbourne in June, after the US Open was only her sixth tournament since then. She is ranked just 52nd in the world and did not lose a single set in Flushing.
On Monday, she showed a strong serve-and-volley game, winning 11 of her 14 net points – 60 of 79 so far in the tournament.
“I’m very happy. I’m really very happy,” said Muchova. “I was nervous today and also in the first few games I had the feeling that my shots were backfiring. That doesn’t happen to me often, so I was a little surprised about it.”
“But yes, it’s important for me. I knew it was an important game. I just wanted to do well. Maybe it’s all these emotions. But yes, now after the game I’m just very happy to be here in the quarterfinals.”
Now Muchova – who hit 17 winners – is aiming for her second consecutive US Open semifinal against Beatriz Haddad Maia, against whom she has a perfect record of 3-0.
“I think we played against Bia last year too. Maybe we played in Cincinnati, a very tough fight, three sets. She is a great fighter, left-handed,” said Muchova.
Brazilian Haddad Maia, seeded 22nd, defeated former world number one Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
“It will be a tough fight for sure. The last time we played against each other, it was a fantastic match from both of us. … I’m very happy that I have the opportunity to play against big players on a big stage. That’s what we work for,” Maia said of Muchova, before tears welled up as the crowd chanted “Ole, ole ole ole, Bia, Bia!”
“I try to hold back the emotions until the end of the game, but now I haven’t managed to do it. This is something very special for me.”
A year ago, she had never made it past the second round of a major tournament. Now, after her victory against the former Australian Open champion, Haddad Maia will play for a place in the semifinals.
“Of course, as an athlete, you are disappointed in these games when you lose and don’t advance. I think it was close. I didn’t play my best. I had a hard time finding a rhythm. The left-hander,” said Wozniacki. “I went into the game with the goal of winning, I wanted to win and I believed I would win.”
Briton Jack Draper (number 25) defeated Czech Tomas Machac in the fourth round with 6:3, 6:1 and 6:2.
