Checa knocked out the world number 2 and faces Iga Swiatek, Brazilian executioner and today’s best tennis player, in the final this Saturday
If the Brazilian fan regretted the elimination of Bia Haddad Maia in the semifinal of Roland Garrosyou can find it in Karolina Muchova a reference to support and even sympathize in this Saturday’s final, at 10 (Brasilia time). And it won’t be by accident. The tennis player from the Czech Republic has a similar trajectory to that of the Brazilian, with similarities that go far beyond the big campaign in Paris, the blond hair and the attempt to overthrow the world number 1, the Pole Iga Swiatek, on clay. The match will be broadcast by ESPN 2 Comes from Sports TV 3.
Bia is 27 years old, while Muchova will reach the same age in August. The Czech has a best finish of 19th, despite being currently 43rd. Bia has already finished 12th and, curiously, on Saturday she should cheer against Muchova: if the Czech is champion, the Brazilian will not enter the Top 10 for the first time in her career.
In terms of titles, the Czech has only one title, while Bia already has two. But the European tennis player already has a good record in Grand Slam tournaments. This is why he has the highest prize pool: just over 4 million dollars, against the Brazilian’s 3.3 million dollars.
But what brings the two tennis players together are their trajectories since adolescence and the campaign at Roland Garros. Muchova and Bia are considered promises from their early youth. But it took them a while to get going for the same reason: physical problems. The Brazilian has already undergone several surgeries, in different parts of the body. In recent years he has also had to treat a tumor on his finger.
Just like Bia, the Roland Garros finalist started facing difficulties in her teens. Her rapid growth (she is 1.80 m tall) has had an effect on her back and knees. Muchova ended up “wasting time” in her career, unable to keep up with other tennis greats of her generation, such as Petra Kvitova, Barbora Krejcikova (both Grand Slam champions) and Karolina Pliskova, former world number 1 .
“It was a roller coaster, 2-5 in the third, but I knew it was just a breakdown”
Did Muchova remain patient and composed to come back and win in the third??#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/NcZHSv5Wsl
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2023
In 2019, it looked like Muchova would start getting her first big results. At Wimbledon she reached the quarterfinals. However, injuries continued to haunt the tennis player, recognized early on for her broad stroke repertoire, with the ability to play great on any surface, from the speed of grass to the slow pace of clay.
Two years later, the Czech presented another strong flash of brilliant tennis. He was a semifinalist at the Australian Open. To do so he overthrew the then leader of the standings, the Australian Ashleigh Barty, from which he received several compliments. The momentum was halted yet again by the body’s struggles. This time an ankle injury stopped his ascent right at Roland Garros. Then 19th in the world, he plummeted to a distant 235th in the standings.
Twists at every corner
Keep up with the highlights of the day by @emirates from Karolina Muchova’s thrilling semifinal victory over world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.#Fly better #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ocCeEzWWnK
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2023
“There were so many bad moments, from one injury to another. Some doctors told me that maybe I would never play again,” the tennis player revealed on Thursday after knocking out Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
And, like Bia, Muchova needed to adopt a more positive mindset to tackle physical obstacles and stay strong on the circuit. The strategy is working. After eliminating the world number two in the semifinals, he wants to beat the number 1 on Saturday.
Iga Swiatek is discreet and a fan of AC/DC and Pink Floyd
Younger than Muchova and Bia, Iga Swiatek plays as a senior. He already has three Grand Slam titles and boasts world No. 1 status since April last year. Aged 22 last week, the Warsaw-born tennis player already has 13 trophies on the circuit and shows the potential to break records in the future.
Swiatek (pronounced “Ixvianték”) has displayed more characteristics and versatility each season. If before she was known as the clay specialist, last year she lifted the US Open trophy to prove that she too can shine on fast. On the pitch, the Pole shows above-average intelligence, tactical discipline and a lot of commitment.
That’s how he has already been champion twice at Roland Garros, the last time last year. A declared fan of Rafael Nadal, like Muchova, the Pole reaches every corner of the field, runs for every ball and almost never gives up a move. Her ability to defend was wide open against Bia in the semifinals. At the same time, she has squandered accuracy, with consecutive balls on the line.
The entire performance is performed silently and unobtrusively. Swiatek doesn’t usually yell on the field, argue with officials, or argue with the crowd. His shyness distinguishes her from the others who have already occupied the noblest position in the ranking. She is far from having the charisma of Serena Williams or the spotlight of Maria Sharapova, for example.
But when he’s in front of the microphones he shows the same precision he has on the pitch. The tennis player was one of the first to take care of her mental health by hiring a psychologist who accompanied her on the circuit since her debut among the professionals. You also defended the appreciation of the women’s circuit and of Ukraine in the war against Russia.
In his introspective way, Swiatek has already admitted that he likes Legos, in a strategy to have fun and also to get rid of the tension of the circuit. In 2021, faced with Australian Open restrictions due to the pandemic, he took two large boxes of the toy to assemble in his hotel room. She is also a fan of literature and rock ‘n roll. Her favorite bands are AC/DC and Pink Floyd.
Source: Terra
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