"I told him to go away, he didn't": Karolina Muchova stalked by ex-boyfriend at US Open in harrowing experience

Karolína Muchová’s run to the third round of the 2025 US Open has already demanded physical and mental resilience, with the Czech star battling through a three-hour match and continuing her return from a wrist injury.

But in her post-match press conference, she also revealed a personal challenge off the court that briefly overshadowed her tennis at the US Open. “I know it’s not about tennis, so I don’t like to talk about it,” Muchova said when asked about her first-round match. “But my ex-boyfriend, who sometimes appears in places where he shouldn’t, was there. That’s where I was, so it scared me a bit. I told him to go away, he didn’t, but then he left. It was difficult for me to focus on tennis at that moment.”

The 28-year-old admitted the incident rattled her, but she recovered to grind out the victory. Since then, she has played through long and demanding contests against another experienced opponent Sorana Cirstea.

Asked how much longer she intends to compete at the top level, Muchova reflected on her passion for the sport. “I still love tennis, so I’ll play until I feel the joy,” she said. “If I reach the point when other players are overplaying me, I’m getting slow, or I’m not enjoying it, I don’t think I’d continue. But I’m not at that point. Whether it’s two years, three years, four years, I don’t know. I can’t tell.”

Her admiration for the veterans she has faced was clear. “Sorana is physically so great, such a good athlete. Venus as well — it was an incredible match. She was still fast, she still has the bombs, and she has all the experience in the world.”

After her marathon second-round win, Muchová admitted: “I’m dead. I just got out of the shower, honestly. We played three hours. It was a great and long fight physically and mentally. I’m a bit exhausted, but it is what it is. Everyone after such a long match would be a little tired. I’ll try to get the best recovery possible — I have a day off tomorrow, so I’ll use it and be ready for another one.”

On the wrist injury that has plagued her in recent seasons, she said: “With the adrenaline when you play, I feel okay. I still feel I’m not hitting fully 100 percent, but I can play. I didn’t hit a two-handed backhand for three or four months, so I need to play it more and get back into that flow. Sometimes I go for the slice even when I don’t need to — I forget I can hit it now. I’m not hitting fully, but I’m trying to gain trust in it match by match and day by day.”

Muchová revealed she has even spoken with Juan Martín del Potro about their shared experience of wrist injuries: “I know he struggled with a lot of injuries. I talked about it with him and he supports me, so it’s nice.”

The Czech confirmed she has made a recent coaching change, bringing in former pro Václav Šafránek, a longtime acquaintance from her home region. “We’re kind of from the same part of the Czech Republic. I’ve known him since we were kids, and we both play in the same club. Funny enough, we went to play padel one time, and I asked, ‘What are you doing now?’ He said he’d be interested, and we just got together. So far, I love how he works and we understand each other. It’s nice cooperating with him.”

Off the court, Muchová also embraced her new partnership with adidas’ Y-3 line. “I love the stuff we got from Y-3, also off-court. It’s super nice — baggy, oversized, and I like that very much. I loved doing the campaign and photoshoots, it was very interesting to see how they do that. I’m happy when I play in something I feel comfortable in, and this is it for sure.”

She also reflected on the conditions in New York. “It was pretty windy. From one side, we were playing with the wind, so you have to be more ready on your legs. I tried to spin more, use more slices. At the end, I was just trying to swing and play through.”

Looking ahead, Muchová will meet compatriot Linda Nosková in the third round — a matchup she admitted she hadn’t processed yet. “I just got out of the shower and came here,” she smiled. “It’s going to be a tough match, she’s playing really well. She’s fast and she serves well.”

Muchová spoke warmly of their relationship, recalling how they bonded at the Olympics. “She’s a great girl, and I have fun with her. We got to know each other the most there, and we still talk to each other. It’s nice and funny — we have a good tennis relationship, but also beyond that.”

Whether talking about her wrist, her mental battles, or her unsettling personal encounter, Muchová’s words painted a portrait of a player navigating more than just opponents across the net. Yet her perseverance has carried her through to the second week in New York, a testament to the fight she continues to show. “It was tough today, so it could have gone either way,” she admitted. “But I’m glad I fought it through. Every win adds to my self-confidence.”