By Clare Lovell
LONDON, July 7 (Reuters) – Karolina Muchova overcame four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 7-6(4) 6-4 in an absorbing contest of athleticism, shot variety and tight margins on Tuesday to set up a Wimbledon semi-final against American Coco Gauff.
The evenly-matched pair had a 3-3 head-to-head record coming into the tie and both produced high quality tennis despite sizzling temperatures on Court One.
The 29-year-old Czech, seeking a first Grand Slam title, proved the steadier player, producing 21 unforced errors to Osaka’s 42 while the pair sent down 24 winners apiece.
The encounter drew roars of delight from the crowd, despite a nervous start with four successive breaks of serve.
Muchova countered her Japanese rival’s ferocious hitting with some delicate touches at the net, using serve and volley as well as drop shots to mix up her game.
She said she tried to match Osaka’s speed, with the 14th seed hitting hard to the lines.
“Once she would shorten the ball, I just tried to maybe go for the slice or go to net to change it up a little bit,” Muchova said.
LOVE THE GRASS
The Czech, who reached the final of the French Open on clay in 2023 but says she now loves grass, stayed in front in the tiebreak, taking the set on her third set point with a forehand winner.
Osaka, 28, had downed top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round. But consistency deserted her as she served two double faults alongside two aces in the ninth game of the second set and missed a drive volley to drop her serve.
“I feel like it’s hard because I played so well in my last match, then today I just feel like I didn’t play well at all and I didn’t have any energy,” Osaka said.
“It felt like my legs were completely gone. Then I felt like I couldn’t really push off anymore. It was a really weird feeling, like my legs were disconnected from the upper half of my body.”
Tenth seed Muchova served out the match, finishing with an ace, to reach her first Wimbledon semi-final.
She is ready to be pushed hard by seventh seed Gauff, who has won six of their seven matches on the tour and beat compatriot Jessica Pegula earlier on Tuesday.
“She is a great athlete overall,” Muchova said. “One of the best in the world in our sport.
“I’m happy we have 0-0 on the grass. That’s a bit better balance for me there.”
(Reporting by Clare Lovell, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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