With her first Wimbledon semi-final within reach, Karolina Muchova approached the baseline of No 1 Court ready to conclude a nearly flawless display. Despite the swirling tension and uncertainty in her mind, Muchova kept her composure, ultimately securing a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over the 14th seed, Naomi Osaka.
The No 10 seed Muchova began her final service game with an unreturned serve and wrapped it up with two aces, leaving Osaka with little chance to respond.
This performance showcased Muchova’s superiority, as she outserved one of the top servers in the game. She achieved a remarkable 69% first serve rate, winning 80% of points on those serves, with an impressive 44% going unreturned.
“I’m super happy with today’s win. I played three times on this court and it was 0-3, so I was a little bit not in a good relationship with this court. We finally made it today and I got that win.” she expressed. “I’m appreciating definitely more the time that I’m here, that I can play, that I don’t have these big issues that I had in the past,”
At 29, Muchova has reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments, marking her fifth major semi-final appearance. It’s surprising it took her this long to advance in Wimbledon, given her skill on grass, a surface that truly enhances her creativity and variety.
Last year, during her first-round exit, Muchova was compelled to slice most of her backhands due to a left wrist injury that deprived her of her two-handed backhand. Now, following a sustained injury-free period, she has gained momentum and is firmly in the hunt for her first Grand Slam title. “I’m also happy that I now am like selling my game, I would say, and that I can use it. I’m healthy, which I don’t like to say – touch wood – I would say I’m more appreciative and enjoying the moment that I’m here, I can play, all that.” she reflected.
“This one is a little more upsetting to me because I feel like there was so much more I could have done,”
Muchova will now face a captivating match against seventh seed Coco Gauff in the semi-final. While Gauff has dominated their previous encounters, winning the first six, Muchova finally triumphed against the American in Stuttgart three months ago. The grass surface may provide Muchova with an edge, yet overcoming her historically challenging match-up will be crucial.
Following a monumental victory can often be more challenging than the win itself, and a fatigued Osaka struggled to replicate the free-flowing style she displayed in earlier rounds, especially during her fourth-round victory over world No 1, Aryna Sabalenka. Osaka’s groundstrokes were inconsistent, particularly her forehand, which faltered during the first-set tie-break. Towards the match’s conclusion, her serve also let her down, as she recorded two double faults at 4-4 in the second set, giving Muchova the critical break.
Given her high level of play leading up to this match, Osaka’s performance was disappointing, representing a significant missed opportunity to follow her four Grand Slam titles from 2018 to 2021 with another deep run in a major tournament. However, this event signifies substantial progress for her as she prepares for the upcoming US hard-court swing, her preferred surface.
Osaka likened this result to her semi-final run at the US Open last year, where she had to commend Amanda Anisimova’s level in her defeat. “I think maybe I should find the positive in that because I’ve gotten to the quarters and I feel like I can still improve so much as a player. “In my head I think there’s still an opportunity to win a slam [title].” she admitted. “I think maybe I should find the positive in that because I’ve gotten to the quarters and I feel like I can still improve so much as a player. In my head I think there’s still an opportunity to win a slam [title].”
