Aryna Sabalenka’s impressive 15-match winning streak came to a dramatic end after a stunning late collapse in her quarter-final clash with Karolina Muchova at the China Open.
The world No. 2 was knocked out in a surprising turn of events, despite being on the verge of victory.
Muchova, who had already proven to be a formidable opponent in the past, secured a hard-fought victory after a three-set battle.
The Czech player edged Sabalenka in a tense opening set, winning a tie-break 7-6 (7-5). Sabalenka, however, rebounded strongly, taking control in the second set with a commanding 6-2 win.
As the third set unfolded, the Belarusian seemed poised to secure her place in the semi-finals, especially after securing an early break.
But just as Sabalenka neared the finish line, her game unraveled, allowing Muchova to stage an incredible comeback.
The Czech, ranked 49th in the world, won the last four games of the deciding set, turning the tide in her favor to claim a 6-4 victory.
This marks Sabalenka’s first defeat since her quarter-final exit at the Canadian Open in August and her third loss to Muchova in four encounters.
Muchova’s resilience was on full display throughout the match, having already saved two set points in the first set.
Her triumph propels her into the semi-finals, where she will face the winner of the highly anticipated match between 17-year-old rising star Mirra Andreeva and China’s own Qinwen Zheng.
In the other half of the draw, Coco Gauff, fresh off her recent Grand Slam success, advanced to the China Open semi-finals, where an in-form Paula Badosa awaits in what promises to be a thrilling contest on Saturday morning.
Reflecting on her victory, Muchova expressed her delight, saying: “I just tried to fight for every ball and, in the end, it was worth it and I’m here standing now [after] winning.”
With no rest day before her next match, she added, “I’m going to watch the [other quarter-final] match and I hope the better [one] wins. I’m just going to try and recover as best as possible now there’s no day off so I’ll just do everything to be ready. To play another match is so amazing, this whole crowd and everything, it’s unbelievable to play here.”
Muchova’s path to the semi-finals continues to highlight her remarkable run, having reached the US Open semi-finals just last month.
