MATCH REPORT | 2024 US Open: Masterful from Muchova, continues epic run with Paolini masterclass to reach Quarter-Finals

Faced with the task this tournament of reaching the semi-finals or plummeting in the rankings, Karolina Muchova has played truly epic tennis all tournament and is into the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 US Open.

Muchova who has seen off so far this fortnight Katie Volynets, Naomi Osaka and Anastasia Potapova can add Jasmine Paolini to that list who ends her Grand Slam final run. It was a straight sets masterclass from Muchova who sealed it 6-3, 6-3. Now she faces Caroline Wozniacki or Beatriz Haddad Maia for a spot in the semi-finals where Iga Swiatek could await.

Swiatek faces Liudmila Samsonova tonight while Diana Shnaider faces Jessica Pegula shortly. Both sit in the top section of the draw and any sort of shocks could open it up for Muchova who has been one of the stories of the tournament thus far.

Spending most of the last year since she reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows on the shelf injured, she has often been lauded as a player with top tier talent who merely can't stay fit or as the phrase goes with most is made of glass.

But against Paolini, she sealed it in just over an hour in a tactical masterstroke. Her first serve was borderline untouchable, she targeted the forehand of Paolini time and time again to create and finish points and made the Italian do what she doesn't like which is press.

Paolini was never able to find her rhythm and after succumbing a 3-1 lead in the first set, Muchova turned the screw and levelled at 3-3 before heading into the lead and she didn't look back from there.

Muchova and Paolini jousted to begin the second with both imperious on their serve. But the pivotal juncture came at 3-3 when Muchova broke serve and broke Paolini in the process. She steadied the ship with a supreme service hold before breaking again for the match. A truly special performance from Muchova again.

Paolini leaves New York having reached the last two Grand Slam finals and has had the year of her life. She will be World Number Four at the end of the tournament and is closing in on Elena Rybakina in third in the latter half of the year. While Muchova is one win away from defending her points, utterly superb.