MATCH REPORT | 2024 US Open: Serve-and-volley masterclass highlights Karolina Muchova's chances to go deep; she dispatches battling Naomi Osaka

Karolina Muchova defeated Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach the Round of 32 at the US Open. The 2023 semifinalist dominated with her serve and delivered a brilliant performance to win the match 6-3, 7-6 with wide dominance over the Japanese player.

The Czech player excites with the level exhibited, despite having been back on tour for only a couple of months after a long injury. She has reached a record of 9-3 since her return to the court and already seems fully recovered after, perhaps, the most important victory since her comeback.

From the start, Naomi Osaka (No. 88) struggled with her serve, achieving only 42% of first serves in the first set compared to an impressive 86% from Muchova (No. 52). The former world No. 1 missed a break opportunity in the 4th game, in a closely contested moment of the match.

Muchova faced difficulty when she was down 2-3, 0-30, but then started a strong run, winning four consecutive games and 12 of the last 13 points of the set. The Czech player was relentless with 12 winners compared to just 5 from Osaka, while both players had 4 unforced errors each.

Osaka started on serve facing three break points but managed to save them. Both players held their serves for most of the set, with the Japanese player having a 63% first serve rate, winning 71% of those points, while Muchova was almost flawless with a 78% first serve rate, winning 79% of them.

Muchova now holds a 7-2 record in this hardcourt swing, with only losses to top-10 players Zheng Qinwen and Jessica Pegula. In the third round, she will face Anastasia Potapova (No. 38), who comes after eliminating Varvara Lepchenko (No. 199) in straight sets.