NEW YORK — Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic has made a triumphant return to the US Open semifinals for the second consecutive year, defeating No. 22 Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, on Wednesday.
Muchova, who lost to eventual champion Coco Gauff in the 2023 semifinals at Flushing Meadows, missed nearly 10 months of action following wrist surgery sustained during last year’s tournament. The World No. 52 returned to competition in June, just before Wimbledon, and has now reached her fourth career Grand Slam semifinal.
Throughout this year’s US Open, Muchova has yet to drop a set, winning 10 of her last 11 matches at the event. This marks a significant improvement from her previous 7-5 record over her first five main draw appearances at the tournament.
During the match, Muchova appeared to struggle with an undisclosed physical issue in the second set, frequently grabbing her hip between points. She left the court briefly with a physio but did not specify the nature of the discomfort when asked by ESPN’s Pam Shriver after the match.
An emotional Haddad Maia, who made history as the first Brazilian woman to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Maria Bueno in 1968, also requested a break after Muchova held serve to go up 5-3 in the second set. She was seen by a trainer before returning to the court.
Muchova’s victory makes her the 19th unseeded woman in the Open era to reach the semifinals in New York and only the fifth to do so without dropping a set, joining Mima Jausovec (1976), Flavia Pennetta (2013), Peng Shuai (2014), and Emma Raducanu, who won the title in 2021.
In her upcoming semifinal match, Muchova will face either top-seeded Iga Swiatek or No. 6 Jessica Pegula. Muchova has a 1-2 record against Swiatek, having lost to her in the 2023 French Open final. She was also defeated by Pegula just before this year’s US Open in Cincinnati.
“I’m happy to be in the semifinals because I wouldn’t have thought that before the tournament,” said Muchova. “It will be tough and exciting.”
This impressive run at the US Open marks a significant comeback for Muchova, who has proven her resilience and skill on one of tennis’s biggest stages.