Karolina Muchova, the Czech tennis star and 2023 French Open runner-up, has kicked off her campaign in Ningbo with a convincing victory over Australian qualifier Olivia Gadecki. This win marks her seventh success in the Asian swing this year, following her impressive performance at the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing where she reached the final against Coco Gauff.
Muchova’s path to victory was not without its challenges. She dominated the first set, securing it with breaks in the first and ninth games. However, Gadecki managed to mount a strong comeback in the second set, even leading by a break at one point. But Muchova’s resilience paid off as she recovered each time and eventually broke Gadecki’s serve in the 12th game to seal her win.
“It’s really nice to be getting back there, gaining the confidence, the game, and as well as the fitness,” Muchova said in Beijing after her previous matches. “It’s nothing you can work on outside the court to get these real matches. I need I think as many matches as I can. It’s good for me for, as you mentioned, the rest of the season and for next season. I’m just trying to play the ball, play every match I can. For sure it’s good to know that I can beat these players, top players. Yeah, it’s good.”
Karolina Muchova’s return to action was also notable given her decision to skip last week’s Wuhan Open due to exhaustion. Her fresh start in Ningbo has continued her fine form in Asia, setting her up for potential showdowns against top players in the upcoming rounds.
###