Roland-Garros, Australian Open, Czech: Everything you always wanted to know about Karolina Muchova (but never had time to find out) – updated after WTA Finals withdrawal
Karolina Muchova has reached at least the quarter-finals of all four Grand Slam events. Here is everything you need to know about the Czech
Karolina Muchova 2021 Australian Open
Who is Karolina Muchova?
Karolina Muchova is a Czech tennis player who has reached the final of Roland-Garros as well as the semi-final of the US Open and Australian Open. She also reached the Cincinnati final in 2023, losing to Coco Gauff.
What did Karolina Muchova do at the US Open in 2023?
Karolina Muchova reached the semi-finals of the US Open for the first time in her career, losing 6-3, 7-5 to Coco Gauff in that last four match. The Czech has now made the quarter-finals or better in all four Grand Slam events.
Muchova qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals in 2023, but had to withdraw prior to the event due to an ongoing wrist injury. She was replaced by first-alternate Maria Sakkari.
What did Karolina Muchova do at the 2023 French Open?
By beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-2, Karolina Muchova reached the semi-finals of Roland-Garros for the first time, and then with a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory over Aryna Sabalenka got through to her maiden Slam final.
She took world No 1 Iga Swiatek to a deciding set in the final, but lost 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 – and finished the match on a double fault.
She had previously reached the last four of the 2021 Australian Open.
When was Karolina Muchova born?
Muchova was born on August 21, 1996 in Olomouc, in the east of the Czech Republic. She now lives in Prague.
Who are Muchova’s parents?
Muchova’s father, Josef Mucha, is a former professional soccer player. He notably played for the Czech club SK Sigma Olomouc. Her mother’s name is Hana Muchova. She has a brother, Filip, a professional soccer goalie at SK Prostejov.
How tall is Muchova?
Muchova is 6’0” according to the official WTA website.
Who is Muchova’s coach?
On her website, Muchova (in Czech and English) indicates that she was coached from March 2020 by David Kotyza, who had long worked with Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion (2011 and 2014). Kotyza also coached Caroline Wozniacki and Karolina Pliskova. He was not present in the Czech’s box during the 2021 Australian Open, unlike her physiotherapist Asier Sanchiz Belamendia and Czech player Barbara Stefkova.
Since April 2023, she has been coached by Emil Miske.
In 2023, she explained to journalists, “We always communicate a lot about practices and we make plans together. It’s not like he would really tell me to play this or that. So he always leave that on me…So we are just trying to play this in the practices, just to be focused on the point and go with the first thought. It’s tough to work on this, but discipline for sure helps, to have discipline as well, like everywhere, and then to put it on the court, yeah, that I could for sure be better disciplined. Yeah, we’re working on it!”
She talked a little more about her approach to practice ahead of the US Open in 2023: “I changed the whole team and I think we are all on the same kind of page, which is nice, and they kind of support me in that.”
How do you say her name?
You can hear Karolina Muchova herself pronounce her name on the WTA website. In English, it sounds similar to “MOO-HO-VA”.
What tournaments has Muchova won?
Karolina Muchova has ONE WTA title to her record, having lifted the trophy at the 2019 Seoul event (here is the tournament draw) after beating Magda Linette in the final. A few months earlier, she had lost in the Prague final to Jil Teichmann. She has won two tournaments on the ITF secondary circuit — in Michalovce (2014) and Sharm-el-Sheikh (2016). She also reached the final of the WTA Masters 1000 in Cincinnati in 2023.
How has Muchova performed at Grand Slams?
At the 2021 Australian Open, Muchova achieved her best Grand Slam result by reaching the semi-finals for the first time. As the No 25 seed she beat Jelena Ostapenko and Mona Barthel before producing three especially superb performances against No 6 Karolina Pliskova, No 18 Elise Mertens, and No 1 Ashleigh Barty. She fell to Jennifer Brady in the semis.
She reached the final at Roland-Garros in 2023, beating Aryna Sabalenka before falling to Iga Swiatek in a tight final. Muchova reached the semi-finals at the US Open. She was knocked out by eventual champion Coco Gauff in that last four match.
What is Karolina Muchova’s best win?
Muchova’s three-set success against world No 1 Barty in the 2021 Australian Open quarter-finals is the best victory of her career to date. Trailing 6-1, 2-0, Muchova managed to overcome the top-seeded Aussie and rallied to reach the semis of a major for the first time. She has also defeated Aryna Sabalenka twice and owns two wins over compatriot and friend Karolina Pliskova, the former world No 1.
Is Muchova on the Czech Republic team for the Billie Jean King Cup?
Muchova played a match for the Czech Republic in the 2019 Fed Cup, which is now called the Billie Jean King Cup. It was in April of 2019 during a play-off tie in the World Group and he won 6-3, 6-0 against Canada’s Rebecca Marino. With Muchova’s help, the Czech Republic stayed in the World Group.
How much money has Muchova earned on tour?
Muchova has earned $5.74 million in prize money, in singles and doubles on Tour, as of August 28, 2023. You can find her up to date earnings on her official WTA profile page.
Is Muchova on social media?
On Twitter she has more than 17,000 followers. On Instagram she is very active with more than 154,000 subscribers. More than 25,000 people like her Facebook page. She also has a website in two languages, Czech and English.
What are Karolina Muchova’s hobbies?
Karolina Muchova is keen on music and plays the guitar, although she says she is not necessarily a great musician.
“I can play a few chords,” she told journalists at Roland-Garros in 2023. “With guitar, if you know, I don’t know, five to seven chords you can play almost all the songs. So I for sure enjoy it. Yeah, it’s a hobby for me.”
