MATCH REPORT | 2024 China Open: Karolina Muchova masterclass ends Aryna Sabalenka's streak in epic contest

Karolina Muchova is into the semi-finals of the 2024 China Open after a masterclass win in Beijing which saw the Czech ace who has been in sizzling form since the US Open end Aryna Sabalenka's 15 match win streak.

Muchova won through in an epic contest 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 in Beijing with Sabalenka performing well but not as good as the former Roland Garros finalist.

She saved two set points in the first set coming from 4-2 down in the third to advance in two hours and 46 minutes. Sabalenka had not lost a match since the Toronto Quarter-Finals at the start of August.

There she fell to eventual runner-up Amanda Anisimova. However Muchova has now defeated the World No.2 three times in a row. She also sealed wins at Roland Garros famously as well as Cincinnati last year. Sabalenka has not beaten Muchova since the 2019 Zhuhai semi-finals and it is a match-up that as proven today is one that tests Sabalenka to her limits.

Including in China where her record is near immaculate albeit not in Beijing where she has never won through the Quarter-Finals. But that isn't any sort of hoodoo with Muchova being in some of the best form of her career. One of the best sights in women's tennis when she is on and after such injury woes, a real delight.

Muchova is playing in just the seventh tournament of her comeback from wrist surgery. She has now reached the semi-finals of at least three of those and continues to gather steam and momentum. While Sabalenka now heads to Wuhan where she is defending champion and is a tournament she loves. But is one that no doubt Muchova will also figure in. A superb win from the Czech who faces either Mirra Andreeva or Qinwen Zheng next.