“The chemistry wasn’t fully there”: Karolina Muchova breaks down Serena Williams doubles loss and missed coordination

Karolina Muchova has provided a detailed account of her brief doubles partnership with Serena Williams at the Berlin Ladies Open, describing both the competitive shortcomings and the personal experience of sharing a court with one of tennis’ most decorated champions.

The Czech world No. 10 partnered Williams during the American’s comeback appearance in Berlin, where they were eliminated in the first round by Erin Routliffe and Giuliana Olmos. The match ended 4–6, 4–6, in what was Williams’ only completed match of the tournament after her return to competitive action.

For Muchova, the defeat was secondary to the broader experience of playing alongside the 23-time Grand Slam champion. She described the occasion as difficult to assess immediately, citing both the result and the novelty of the partnership. T

Williams’ return to the tour continues to draw scrutiny, with speculation around potential wildcards for Wimbledon and a possible doubles appearance alongside her sister Venus Williams. Muchova’s perspective offered a rare on-court evaluation of the American’s current level in a competitive setting.

Muchova pointed directly to the absence of structured preparation as a key factor in the loss, noting that their only joint practice came in informal hit sessions. Even then, she stressed, they did not train in a doubles-specific format, instead playing one-on-one due to weather constraints.

She explained that the lack of coordination became visible during key points, where movement patterns and shot selection were not fully aligned. “We probably lacked a bit of coordination," Muchova said to Canal+. "There were moments where one of us would expect the other to do something and it didn’t happen, and then we got a bit confused. The chemistry wasn’t fully there. It would have helped, but we left it as it was.”

Despite the defeat, Muchova did not frame the experience negatively in personal terms. Instead, she highlighted the unusual nature of the partnership, which was arranged shortly before the tournament after contact from Williams’ team. She admitted the decision to play was immediate.

“It was about a week before the tournament. Her team contacted me, and I was obviously surprised. I didn’t hesitate long before saying yes, and I was looking forward to it. I thought it could be fun and a good experience.”

Beyond the doubles result, Muchova also addressed broader questions surrounding Williams’ competitive level after her return to tour activity. The American, who has been absent from regular competition since her final US Open appearances, remains the subject of ongoing speculation regarding a potential singles comeback and wildcard entries.

Williams’ recent appearances, including her participation at Queen’s Club Championships alongside Victoria Mboko before an injury withdrawal, have intensified discussion about whether she could still compete at the highest level in singles. Muchova, however, was cautious in her assessment while acknowledging the underlying power remains evident.

“I definitely don’t want to speak for her, but from practice, the ball is still flying off her racket. The power is there. When she serves and really goes for it, it’s still the same. I think she would definitely need more singles-specific training, but the ability is still there.”

The evaluation places Williams’ current level in a nuanced position: no longer fully match-ready in singles terms, but still capable of producing elite shot quality in controlled environments. Wimbledon remains the immediate focal point, with the tournament yet to confirm its final wildcard allocation.

Muchova also reflected on the personal impact of the experience, particularly the recognition received from Williams during and after the event. “It’s nice, and I don’t really know what to say. I’m not very good at receiving compliments, but of course it feels good and I’m happy about it.”

Looking ahead, Muchova confirmed she would be open to repeating the partnership under different circumstances, although her competitive focus remains firmly on singles. With Wimbledon approaching, she is scheduled to compete at the Bad Homburg Open as her final preparation event, entering the grass-court major as the world No. 10 and a seeded player.

Her recent singles form has been mixed, including a second-round defeat to Madison Keys at Berlin, but her status inside the top 10 ensures she will remain a seeded contender at SW19. Her past results there include quarter-final runs in 2019 and 2021, though she has also endured four consecutive first round exits (2022-2025).