Karolina Muchova, 43rd in the world, overcomes Aryna Sabalenka and goes to the final – Liberation

2023-06-08 18:53:10

Roland-Garros 2023dossier

The 26-year-old Czech surprisingly beat Belarus, seeded No. 2, who was one of the big favorites for this 2023 edition. She will face number one Iga Swiatek or Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia in the final on Saturday.

A year ago, Karolina Muchova’s adventure at Roland-Garros ended in tears. Her ankle had turned in the third round, on the Suzanne-Lenglen court, and the Czech had to give up due to injury. Once again for the 26-year-old player with a career cut short by injuries. A year later, it was with red eyes again but a big smile on her face that she left the Philippe-Chatrier court, a ticket for the Parisian Grand Slam final in her pocket.

In the late afternoon of Thursday, June 8, she won against the No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka after a 3:13 marathon match won 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-5. A major feat for the one who was only 43rd in the WTA rankings before the tournament.

In front of initially half-empty stands and in a funeral atmosphere, the first round was balanced. The alternating game of Karolina Muchova, made of amortizations and climbs to the net, disturbs Aryna Sabalenka. But the Belarusian takes the best when the exchanges drag on from the baseline and she can make her power speak. Logically, the set ends in a tie-break. Sabalenka gives two gifts in a row – too long forehands. Then Muchova sends a long line backhand jewel and wins the first set 7-6 (5). Aryna Sabalenka hadn’t dropped a single set in her first five matches.

game of chess

The second round, Sabalenka seems to play it alone. It’s not that Karolina Muchova plays badly, but the Belarusian is rain or shine. She sometimes makes unforced errors until she can no longer count them (17 to 5 over the whole set), sometimes she crushes the Czech with her usual recipe: powerful strikes, a blow to the right, a blow to the left, until until his opponent can no longer send them back. After an hour of Belarusian mountains, a new tie-break. Who switches this time to his advantage. One everywhere after more than two hours of play. Never during this 2023 edition Aryna Sabalenka had spent so much time on the court.

The sequel looks like a game of chess. The games are long and hooked. Each of the two players advances her pawns with each time the fear of making the wrong move, the one that will allow her opponent to have a foothold in the final. At this little game, Karolina Muchova is the first to crack, on a forehand too long, offering a break to Sabalenka (4-2). But two games later, while serving for the match, the Belarusian stutters, multiplies (again) the unforced errors and in turn drops her serve.

We believe spinning for the third time in the afternoon at the tie-break. It was without counting on Sabalenka who harvests a new game of service, chaining two double faults then a backhand too long. Muchova bends the case behind (7-5) and goes to the final for the first time in her career. It’s hard not to think that her opponent lost the match on her own.

In the next round, Karolina Muchova could find Iga Swiatek, the world number 1 and defending champion at Porte d’Auteuil. The Polish faces in the afternoon the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia in an unbalanced duel, on paper. But the ocher of the Philippe-Chatrier court seems to be a land of exploits this Thursday.