The scoreline won’t show it, but Karolina Muchova’s 6-1, 6-4 quarterfinal victory over Beatriz Haddad Maia on Wednesday included yet another struggle for the Czech player.
“Frankly, she said. “I'm kind of used to it.”
The 2024 US Open was just her sixth tournament back after undergoing right-wrist surgery in February. Yet on Wednesday, both she and Haddad Maia faced physical difficulties in the second set, at the same time.
In Muchova’s case, a stomach bug caused her to leave the court.
“I hope it didn't disturb anyone,” Muchova said. “It never happened to me before, but I really needed to go off the court. I don't like to do it, but I had no other choice.”
Around the same time, Haddad Maia appeared to have some trouble breathing. The Brazilian turned her back before a serve and, at one point, had three officials on court to make sure she could continue.
It all contributed to what Muchova called a “very weird match, weird dynamic of the match. Very tough.”
Even so, Muchova said, “I think I played good in the key points, when I had a breakpoint or I was serving for a game, I always pull[ed] out good shot. I'm happy that I managed it in two sets again.”
That said, it’s been a while since Muchova has played the US Open problem-free.
Last year, her wrist problem began here, just before her quarterfinal–a three-setter against Sorana Cirstea of Romania.
“I don't like to talk about injuries,” Muchova said on Wednesday. “I've been through a lot of them. This last one, the wrist surgery, was one of the worst. Looking back, I'm like, ‘Oh, it actually flew by, the time,’ and I feel strong again. But [in] February, I wasn't always that positive. It was tough moments, honestly, when I couldn't move the arm and couldn't do much."
She continued, “But then, I always try to focus on: what's the first step I can do towards recovery? I had really great team of doctors. I'm very grateful...that I'm here playing pain-free.”
“I don't like to talk about injuries. I've been through a lot of them."
But Wednesday’s issue was a new one.
“I was trying to do all I could on the court to feel better,” Muchova said, “to ask for some pills, some help. I tried to play shorter points.”
Muchova also tried to remember the words of Arthur Ashe: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
“It’s written here on the court, Ashe’s thing,” she said, though paraphrasing it as: “Do what you can with all you have today, or something like that. I was keeping that in mind.”
Wednesday’s malady aside, Muchova said that compared to last year, “I feel pretty fit. The body is fine. Game-wise, every match here I feel better on court, and that for sure helps…to be more confident.”
In the semifinal, Muchova will either face No. 1 Iga Swiatek or No. 6 Jessica Pegula.
“Iga really supported me when I got the surgery,” she said. “It's always nice to get that support, especially from her, being the best player that there is. We know each other since, maybe one of hers and one of my first WTA tournaments in Prague. We played few matchups [later] in Prague, and we practiced last year in Warsaw, so [we have a] little connection. It's nice.”
But Swiatek is the one who beat her in the 2023 French Open final.
As for Pegula?
“She's playing unbelievable: Toronto title and then finals in Cincinnati,” Muchova said. “She's on fire, playing this deep in the tournaments week by week. She's just great player, playing very deep in the court, good mover. We played in Cincinnati. That was tough battle. She didn't give me one point for free.”
Pegula beat Muchova there, in three sets. But if anyone has proven that she can succeed on the rebound, it’s Muchova.
