PARIS – As it stands, Karolina Muchova was the unseeded, unexpected participant of the French Open semifinals.
And when she was struggling with leg cramps almost three hours into the game, she was just a point away from defeat #2 Aryna Sabalenkawho started Thursday with a 12-0 record Grand Slam in 2023, including an Australian Open title.
Muchova somehow struggled out of this difficult situation, winning the last five games against the error-prone Sabalenka with a 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5 victory at Roland Garros to reach her first Major finally in the last place she expected.
“A rollercoaster ride,” Muchova said.
It was hard to decide which was more amazing: that Sabalenka lost – or the way she lost.
“I just tried to keep fighting and it worked,” Muchova said. “I really don’t know what happened.”
Well, here are the basics: Sabalenka saved a match point while leading 5-2 in the third set, but Muchova canceled it out with a forehand winner. This began a run in which Muchova collected 20 of the last 24 points.
“After that game, she kind of jumped in and started playing a little more aggressively, and I kind of lost my rhythm,” Sabalenka summarized. “Yes, I wasn’t there.”
Muchova meets both in the title fight on Saturday No. 1 Iga Swiatek, the defending champion, or No. 14 Beatriz Haddad Maia. Their semifinals were scheduled for later on Thursday.
Ranked 43rd, Muchova is the fourth-last French Open finalist in history. On the other hand, she is now 5-0 in her career against players ranked in the top 3.
This trip to Paris lasted until Saturday Off the pitch, things were far more complicated for Sabalenka than where all six of her opponents were unseeded.
The topic of the role of Belarus in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — the attacks began in February 2022 and continue to this day — and Sabalenka’s point of view on this issue it came up repeatedly, partly because she faced two Ukrainian opponents.
After each of her first two wins, she was questioned about the war, and Sabalenka refused to attend the usual post-match press conferences after her next two contests, saying she didn’t feel safe and wanted her “mental health and her.” Well-being” protect – being.” After her quarter-final victory, she turned back to the media.
“Some challenges,” said Sabalenka. “Emotional Challenges.”
In the 80-degree heat of Court Philippe Chatrier, Muchova’s versatility and all-court style provided the right mix against one of the game’s biggest hitters.
Admittedly, that’s an oversimplification, but think of it this way: Sabalenka tries to hit the ball past her opponent; Muchova tries to swipe the ball away from her opponent.
“It’s a bit difficult to get points against them,” said Sabalenka.
The third set seemed to benefit Sabalenka as her pressure led to some additional errors. A long forehand from Muchova resulted in a service break and a 4-2 lead for Sabalenka, who held their game 5-2.
That’s when everything started to fall apart for her.
Sabalenka needed just one more point to end the game, but Muchova came on with a big serve and a quick forehand winner to smother that chance.
“Just one more point,” Muchova would say later.
Sabalenka didn’t manage a break there, but then secured the win at a score of 5:3 – and didn’t get through again. Muchova came up 5-4, then sat down and massaged her right thigh during the ensuing substitution. Soon it was suddenly 5:1.
Sabalenka continued to miss her target and tried to attract the attention of her entourage in the stands as if blaming everything on her racquet so she could switch gear. She finished the race with 53 unforced errors, nearly double Muchova’s 27.
Muchova – stretching between points – just kept hitting big throws.
“I could see,” Muchova said, “that she was struggling a little and making quick mistakes.”
Muchova, a 26-year-old from the Czech Republic, has always found that her game works best in faster conditions: her best performance at a Major to date was a semi-final run at the 2021 Australian Open on hard courts, her only WTA title on a hard court and she has never made it past the third round on the red clay of Roland Garros.
“It’s not my favorite surface,” Muchova said at the beginning of the tournament, “but I think I can play well on it.”
Played well enough on Thursday for sure.
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