The year 2023 so far appears to be the year of Karolína Muchová’s return to the world’s top tennis ranks. After her success on the hard surface, the skilled Czech made a dominant appearance on the clay as well, sweeping away the former world No. 2 in Madrid at the start and receiving another volley of compliments on her attractive all-court tennis.
During the first three months of the current season, the twenty-six-year-old Muchová soared a hundred places ahead and is already knocking on the door of the elite fifty again. The Czech won the quarterfinals at two big “thousands” in Dubai and Indian Wells. This year, she never fell in the first round.
Certainty and consistency are returning to the game of the Olomouc native, and for the time being her biggest weakness has not made a more fundamental statement: her fragile health.
Thanks to her pleasing style of play, Muchová is the center of attention at every tournament, and it is no different at the prestigious Mutua Open in Madrid, which the Czech entered on Tuesday with a crushing 6-2, 6-2 win over struggling Estonian star Anett Kontaveit.
“Muchová has a strong season and continues to make a comeback,” wrote the official WTA server, recalling Muchová’s more than solid match record this year: 16 wins and 5 defeats.
Against the Estonians, she scored eighteen winning balls and only fourteen unforced errors, while delighting the spectators’ eyes with a series of typical shorts.
“That’s a touch, this was delicious. Muchová mixes it really well,” praised the commentator after one of them.
After the match, popular presenter Prakash Amritraj invited the tennis player to his show on the Tennis Channel and poured out one compliment after another.
“You’re one of those players we all love to watch because of your varied game. Most try to stick to one thing they do best, but you do it all. How did you manage to build such a beautiful game?” asked the visibly delighted Mucha.
“Thank you, it’s because I really enjoy it. I’ve enjoyed this style since I was a child. To play a slice, to play short, to go to the net, I just love to play like this, I don’t know what else to say,” smiled the Czech.
When the presenter asked her who was her role model in this direction in her childhood, Muchová did not hesitate for a second. “Of course Federer,” she confided with admiration for the Swiss giant. “Ah, he played a few tricks in his time,” joked Amritraj, and Muchová chimed in.
The player also faced the question of whether she set specific goals for herself in the so far excellent season.
“Not at all. I recently fell out of the top 200 so I just want to play matches and not put too much pressure on myself. But I’m very happy with how I played in March in the States and before that in Dubai. I feel like I’m on the right track . I believe in myself,” she explained and subsequently revealed the plans after all.
“Of course I want to be where I’ve been. Even higher. On the other hand, I don’t want to have too many expectations,” she added.
The former world number 19 and semi-finalist of the Australian Open 2021 has been fundamentally hindered in recent seasons by health problems, especially with the abdominal muscles. Because of them, she fell to the third hundred ranking. Last season, she played only 23 matches, of which she lost more than half.
In the second round, she will face a duel with the 35th player in the world, the unpleasant Romanian Irina Beguová, in Madrid. The only previous meeting took place four years ago in the second round of Roland Garros, and the Czech lost 1:2 in sets.
