(September 2, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – Last year’s semifinalist Karolina Muchova stopped Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist, No. 5 Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-3 in 69 minutes to earn a spot in the final eight at the US Open on Monday.
A year ago, the woman from the Czech Republic reached the US Open semifinals and after her run sustained a serious wrist injury that has sidelined her for most of this last year.
Muchova had to recover from a an early break in the first set to trail 1-3 and then won 5 straight games to win the set 6-3. She broke the Italian twice in the seond set to close it out in straight sets. Now ranked at No. 52, Muchova has not dropped a set in the tournament.
“My thoughts… very happy to win again in two sets,” Muchova said to media. “I think it was very tricky, tough match.
“I was actually a little bit nervous today. I don’t even know why, but it was kind of weird match. I had weird feeling in my body whole match, but yeah, I’m glad that I won.”
“I’m not really thinking about winning the tournament,” Muchova said. “I came to the tournament in different position, I would say. Not that many matches played. It was my second tournament on the hard court.
“Now playing few matches, I feel like I’m building up the game. I feel better each day on court. I’m just thinking about the match I’m going to play and trying to be prepared as best as possible. Then we’ll see how far I can go.
“I’m in quarters, and I’m really grateful for that, and we’ll see.”
Next up for Muchova will be Beatriz Haddad Maia the 22nd seed.
On her next match: “Against Bia (Hadad Maia), we played I think last year I guess as well. Maybe we played in Cincinnati very tough battle, three sets. She’s a big fighter, lefty.
“Both very, very tough opponents. So let the better win, and let’s see how I’m going to approach that match.”
No. 1 Iga Swiatek advanced to the quarterfinals on Monday night with a 6-4, 6-1 beating of No. 16 seed Liumila Samsonova. The five-time major winner will playn No. 6 Jessica Pegula for a spot in the semifinals. The American Pegula has never advanced past the quarterfinal of major. Pegula defeated Russian Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-2.
Pegula at 30 is the oldest woman left in the US Open draw. She is the daughter of billionaires who own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
“I feel like there’s been more pressure this year, because I did so well coming into this tournament,” she said. Pegula won the Toronto tournament and was a finalist in Cincinnati leading into the US Open.
No, 22 Beatriz Haddad Maia defeated former finalist Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to make the final 8. she’ll play Muchova next. The Brazilian became just the seoond Brazilian woman in the Open Era to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open.
“I think today’s match was a pretty good battle,” she said, “As I said on the court, I respect a lot Caroline because of everything she reached, being No. 1 in the world, a lot of titles. She’s a very fighter player, so it’s not easy to play against her.
“I think I start in the best way. The first set was pretty good from my side, and then, well, she improved a little bit. I had my up-and-downs during the second set, and I tried to become to understand what was going on and be disciplined, and I’m very happy that I could make this win.”
