How Karolina Muchova overcame wrist surgery, 10-month absence from competition to make consecutive US Open SFs

“Wrist upgrade: completed! Rehab challenge? Accepted.” Those were the words with which Karolina Muchova began the new season, last having made the US Open semifinals at the back end of 2023.

Fast forward seven months, the 28-year-old is in the semifinals in New York again. The road, however, has been long and arduous. The wrist injury that sidelined her from tennis for nearly 10 months took its sweet time to heal.

Muchova is no stranger to injury. In fact, her tennis career comes across as much younger than her age would suggest. She has had issues with her wrist, thigh, and ankle that have kept her away from the court for prolonged periods.

The latest setback struck after her hugely successful 2023 season that saw her reach a maiden Grand Slam final at the French Open. Muchova needed surgery on her wrist in February this year, which was followed by rehab.

“Wrist upgrade: completed! ✓ Rehab challenge? Accepted. Following my injury at the US Open and an extensive rehabilitation phase, it turned out that a medical intervention was necessary. So here I am, tired and sad, but I know I'll be okay now. The surgery was successful and I'm gonna do all I can to see you on the court again soon,” Karolina Muchova wrote in an Instagram post updating fans about her injury in February this year.

Muchova, however, has always been headstrong. And she never loses sight of the bigger picture. She spoke about taking things slow after her latest injury, saying her first aim was to be back healthy and tennis came later.

“At that moment, I'm like, 'OK, I don't think I'll ever hold a racquet,” Karolina Muchova said earlier this year. “I don't know if I'll ever hold a fork and eat. It [the wrist] was really, really weak.”

And, importantly, she never rushed her return. The Czech did not eye the big stage immediately and chose to return at the Eastbourne International in June. She was looking good, dropping just six games in her opening two matches (including a retirement by Elina Avanesyan).

Most players would have gotten greedy, but not Muchova. She continued to listen to her body and withdrew from her quarterfinal against Madison Keys. An early exit at Wimbledon followed and she then turned to a small WTA 250 event in Palermo. It was her run to the final here that electrified her game once again.

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The all-court skills of US Open semifinalist Karolina Muchova

Karolina Muchova's dynamic game has been on the showcase at the 2024 US Open (Image via Getty)

Luckily for Karolina Muchova, the tennis has always taken care of itself. She has one of the most well-rounded games on the Tour. She isn’t the biggest ball-striker, but compensates what she lacks in terms of power with her tennis IQ. Mastery over short angles, deep topspin-heavy groundstrokes, a vicious slice and an efficient front-court game make her a nightmare to play against.

Muchova’s tennis has transcended surfaces. She made her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the lush lawns of Wimbledon. She followed it up with the final on the Paris terre battue and now has back-to-back US Open semifinals to her name.

The 28-year-old still does not take anything for granted. She is proud of her results but the victory was hers already the day she was back out on court competing.

“Honestly, for me the biggest win this year is that I could play again,” Karolina Muchova had said during her on-court interview after beating Naomi Osaka. “I’m really grateful that I’m able to play tennis. This is just the cherry on top, to be here again in this stadium.”

Muchova has always been an active person as she recalled in another one of her on-court interviews. Her hyperactivity in fact is probably what helped her develop those extra skills that set her apart. Growing up in a family that understood sports (her father is a former footballer) only helped her cause.

“I was a very active kid. When I tried something I just wanted to be that. Luckily my parents allowed me to do everything. My dad and brother are footballers. It was always football, handball, synchronized swimming.. everything. All the weird things. I’m sure it helped me with the moves,” Karolina Muchova said.

When fully fit, there are fewer sights in tennis better than watching Karolina Muchova work her magic on court.

Be it her once in a blue moon behind-the-back lob that has caught tennis world’s attention at the US Open, or her big upsets that come without prior warning, the Czech has always been a disrupter, an agent of chaos. And if her own words are anything to go by, there’s nowhere else that she’d rather be.

“I hope I'll bring the good tennis again and that I can, yeah, make some mess at the top again,” Karolina Muchova had said during a recent episode of the WTA Insider podcast.