"Karolina Muchova has superpower to make Aryna Sabalenka unravel" - Fans react to Czech knocking out No. 1 seed at China Open 2024

Karolina Muchova held her nerves and took her chances to get the better of Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of the 2024 China Open on October 4. Consequently, the Czech star has now reached her third semifinal in seven tournaments since returning to action after wrist surgery.

Muchova and Sabalenka began their quarterfinal clash with confident serving displays. While both women held their serves in the first set, Sabalenka had two set points on Muchova's serve at 5-4 but failed to convert either. The Czech eventually took the one-set advantage via a tiebreaker.

The US Open champion showed her fighting spirit in the second set and, with the help of her huge groundstrokes, broke Muchova twice to equal the scoreline. Sabalenka continued her dominant display to race to a 4-2 lead in the final set. However, Muchova roared back into the match and won four games on the trot to register a 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4 win.

The result brought an end to Sabalenka's 15-match winning streak that included titles at the Cincinnati Open and the US Open. Tennis fans praised Karolina Muchova for notching her third-straight victory over Sabalenka and wondered why the Belarusian has not been able to rattle off the Czech's challenge.

"The way Sabalenka chokes against Muchova needs to be studied," a fan said.

"Think we know now (if we didn't before) why Sabalenka's team were so keen to avoid Muchova in that US Open final," another fan tweeted.

"It’s like Muchova has a superpower to make Sabalenka unravel late in a deciding set. It’s the last 3 matches including RG 2023, Cincy 2023," a fan wrote.

Fans joked that Sabalenka dreaded playing Muchova. They also hoped to see the Czech, who has had her fair share of extensive injury troubles, remain fully fit and flourish on the WTA Tour.

"The world would be a better place if Karolina Muchova remained healthy for the rest of her career," a fan wrote on X.

Some fans drew parallels between Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner after the Italian also endured the end of his 15-match winning streak in the final of the 2024 China Open against Carlos Alcaraz. A fan joking asked the authorities to check Sabalenka for clostebol, the banned substance for which Jannik Sinner tested positive and got embroiled in a doping scandal.

"Sinner and Sabalenka really win and lose together huh," a fan commented.

"Someone test her for clostebol quickly!" a fan quipped.

Karolina Muchova to face Zheng Qinwen in China Open SF after beating Aryna Sabalenka

Karolina Muchova (Source: Getty)

Karolina Muchova's next stop at the 2024 China Open will be a meeting with fifth seed Zheng Qinwen in the semfinals on October 5. The home favorite moved into her maiden WTA 1000 semifinals after surviving a tough clash against 17th seed Mirra Andreeva in her quarterfinal and coming out victor from a set down.

The Chinese No. 1 also bettered Kamilla Rakhimova, Nadia Podoroska, and Amanda Anisimova in Beijing this year. Meanwhile, Karolina Muchova defeated Anna Blinkova, Yue Yuan, Jaqueline Cristian, and Cristina Bucsa before beating Sabalenka. Zheng and Muchova are tied 1-1 in head-to-head contests, with the former winning the most recent clash in the final of the 2024 Palermo Ladies Open.

The winner of Muchova and Zheng's semifinal will face either fourth seed Coco Gauff or 15th seed Paula Badosa in the final of the 2024 China Open. Gauff was given a scare by Ukrianian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva in her quarterfinal before winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, while Badosa ended Zhang Shuai's remarkable run by defeating her 6-1, 7-6(4).