2023-06-08 18:22:46
From our special correspondent Porte d’Auteuil – Surprise in the first women’s semi-final at Roland-Garros: world number 43 Karolina Muchova won on Thursday June 8 against Aryna Sabalenka, world number 2 and favorite of the tournament.
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Karolina Muchova, the hunter of giants. After hooking the scalp of Maria Sakkari during the first round of Roland-Garros, the number 43 of the WTA ranking made another member of the top 10 falter: Aryna Sabalenka who therefore lost her semi-final after a duel of more than three hours.
For the first face-off, Aryna Sabalenka had shown authority from the outset. In a little over two minutes, she was already concluding it with a powerful service winner.
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The longer the exchange lasts, the stronger Muchova is
But the Czech was not impressed. The two warriors of the Philippe-Chatrier court quickly surrendered in quick succession. If the Belarusian offers two break points in the fourth game, the Czech resists by forcing long exchanges.
As time passes on center court, Aryna Sabalenka seems to appear more and more helpless in the face of her opponent’s game: net climbs, volleys and backhand lifts… Karolina Muchova makes her opponent doubt and makes the best break moment, offering himself the right to serve for the set.
But the world number 2 has resources. She erases a set point then cancels the break (5-5). Two games later, the two women must decide in a tie-break. An exercise where the Czech finally cracks the Belarusian, who loses her first set of the fortnight after 1h09 of combat.
“Karo! Karo! Karo!”. After the defeat of Caroline Garcia, the French public recycled their songs for the Czech. Opposite, the world number 2 seems sounded. Karolina Muchova took advantage of this and made a perfect start to the second set: a shutout on her serve, followed by a break.
Sabalenka wins the second tie-break
Aryna Sabalenka eventually reacts. She makes her power speak to erase the late break and catch up with her opponent. It is also she who manages to make up the difference in the middle of the round. But, despite the Belarusian battering, the Czech finds the strength to cancel the advantage taken by her opponent (4-4). Inexorably, the two tenniswomen are heading for a new tie-break. This time it’s Sabalenka who wins.
The world number 2 is exhilarated by this success. Faced with Muchova who seems to be physically upset, she pockets the first serve and gives herself three break points on her opponent’s. But the Czech holds firm. Before releasing his next face-off (4-2). She thinks she has done the hardest part but when she has to serve for the match, Muchova still finds the strength to make the difference and pick up at 5-5. And it is even she who finds herself in a strong position, serving for a place in the final thanks to two double faults by Sabalenka. She is not shaking.
Five months after the Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka misses the opportunity to afford a new Grand Slam final. Karolina Muchova can savor: the 43e will challenge the winner of the duel Iga Swiatek – Beatriz Haddad Maia on Saturday and should, whatever happens, make a giant leap in the WTA rankings.
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