(August 29, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic saved three set points in the second set to go on to a straight sets win over two-time champion Naomi Osaka of Japan on Thursday night at the US Open.
“During the pressure moments, I got nervous, and I don’t know if I just have to keep playing more matches and get used to that feeling, especially on a really big stage,” said the former No. 1 back on the tour since having a baby. “Honestly, if I get past the disappointment, I feel pretty proud of myself to have gotten that many opportunities while still feeling like I could have played much better.”
“I think for me this match was just so different from my match with Ostapenko. So I felt like, you know, I had to keep fighting. I didn’t feel like I was playing as perfectly as before, but I don’t think you can play perfectly every match.”
“Tough match, said Muchova, currently ranked at 52 in the world. “Really happy that I was able to finish in two sets. Yeah, really tough battle. Really nice atmosphere. I didn’t play these matches for a bit, so I’m just really happy with the win today.”
“I was just really trying to be focused,” the former Roland Garros finalist said. “I know she’s amazing player and that I have to bring the A-game to have a chance. So I was just trying to be really focused on myself.
“I knew I have to serve good because her serve is really good. So I was just trying to be kind of locked in myself and focused out there.
“Yeah, then the energy and the big court and all that, it for sure helps me.”
Muchova hit a total of seven aces throughout the match. She also secured 80% of her first serves in compared to Osaka who made 57% of her first serves in. Muchova won 68% of her net points compared to Osaka’s 44%.
“I remember playing her back in my day” said the world No. 88 Osaka. “She’s always a really good player. She’s very athletic. She has a lot of variety.
“I enjoy watching her play and also playing her even though sometimes it doesn’t go my way. I think she’s a great player. The Czechs make some really talented players,””Honestly I feel like I’m coming back from pregnancy, but also it wasn’t like in 2022 I was like the best version of myself,” Osaka said. “So in some way I had to catch up to that, and then also I’m trying to pass it at the same time.
“I don’t know. It’s been a little difficult because obviously I can only gauge how I’m doing by results. Like, I feel faster. I feel better, but I lost in the second round. So it’s a little rough.
“But, also, it’s been fun playing a lot of tournaments. It’s been a commitment for sure, but I’ve been able to go to different cities that I’ve never been to. I really enjoyed Doha. I haven’t been there, so — well, I have been there, but I don’t know, it’s been nice to go there.
“Yeah, it’s a little rough because I do take these losses really personally. It’s like a dramatic word, but I feel like my heart dies every time I lose. It sucks a lot, but I’ve been trying to be more mature and learn and talk more about them.”
Muchova was purposely slicing and dicing with spins to put her opponent off track. “It was a plan. I wanted to change the rhythm. That was one of the things that I wanted to play today. I tried it. I felt like it was working, so I just stick to that plan.
“Yeah, I was trying to play it through whole match. I think most of the time it worked. So I was just keep on going.”
Muchova will face Anastasia Potapova for a place in the final 16.
