Sabalenka had looked in unstoppable form in Roland Garros, even at times in yesterday's semi-final. She held serve with the chance to face Swiatek for the title; she even had match point.
Then Karolina Muchova happened. The unseeded 26-year-old Czech was down and out as she trailed 5-2 in the decider. An impressive performance in a grand slam semi-final threatened to be put down as a mere contribution to an absorbing contest as Sabalenka surged ahead, but Muchova rallied from the brink. She won five games in a row to stun Sabalenka and set up a final with Swiatek, who was pushed by Beatriz Haddad Maia but prevailed 6-2 7-6 to reach her third French Open final in four years.
On paper, Swiatek will be the favourite to retain her crown, but Muchova has ensured that such assumptions should not be made ahead of Saturday afternoon. Muchova's match against Sabalenka was the fifth time she had played an opponent ranked in the world's top three; her 7-6 6-7 7-5 win, secured in over three hours on Court Philippe Chatrier, was her fifth victory. Muchova has also won her only previous meeting with Swiatek, even if both players have come a long way since the Czech's three-set win in Prague in 2019.
This story is from the June 09, 2023 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the June 09, 2023 edition of The Independent.
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