Swiatek is unstoppable
Muchova celebrates a very special victory
06/08/2023 9:29 p.m
Outsider Karolina Muchova creates the next surprise at the French Open and ends Aryna Sabalenka’s title dream. The Belarusian is on the verge of success. But then the limping Czech celebrates a furious comeback.
Iga Swiatek threw his fist in the air and was celebrated by the fans. After a hard piece of work, the world number one from Poland is in the final of the French Open. On the way to her fourth Grand Slam title, she meets there on Saturday (3 p.m. / Eurosport and in the live ticker at ntv.de) on a surprise finalist – the world number 43. Karolina Muchova from the Czech Republic.
“It’s fantastic. I’m happy that I’m playing so consistently and I’m looking forward to Saturday,” said Swiatek after the hard-fought 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) against Beatriz Haddad Maia from Brazil. Swiatek, who had already triumphed in Paris in 2020 and 2022, did not drop a set in her sixth appearance at Roland Garros this year.
Muchova had surprisingly defeated Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, who was in second place, 7: 6 (7: 5), 6: 7 (5: 7), 7: 5 and saved a match point in the process. The two fought a gripping fight over 3:13 hours, at the end of which the unseeded and overjoyed Muchova made it into a Grand Slam final for the first time in her career.
A special success for the Czech, who was recently plagued by injuries. “Some doctors have told me that I will never be able to exercise again,” she said at the press conference. “But I stayed positive and worked hard.” In front of a disappointing crowd on the Philippe Chatrier Court, Muchova was already 2:5 behind in the last set, but then showed her best tennis, although a bit battered. The favorite Sabalenka, on the other hand, was suddenly afraid of winning with the lead behind her and she made a whole series of avoidable mistakes. At the end there were 50 pieces in the statistics.
“I don’t even know what happened here. I’m so happy,” said Muchova after her greatest career success. She reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2021 and won her only title on the tour in Seoul in 2019. Melbourne winner Sabalenka, who was visibly struggling with the heat, had to bury her dream of a second major title. Due to the bankruptcy, she also missed the chance to replace Swiatek as number one in the world rankings. The Pole is entering her 63rd week in a row at the top.