Former top-10 players, Beatriz Haddad Maia and Karolina Muchova, battle in Wednesday's US Open quarter-final for a place in the last four.
The Brazilian came through a thrilling three-setter against two-time runner-up in New York Caroline Wozniacki to reach the last eight, where she takes on an unblemished Muchova making up for lost time after missing almost a year due to a wrist injury.
Match preview
© Imago
Although Haddad Maia's sportsmanship was questioned by some observers in her third-round victory over Anna Kalinskaya, nobody doubted the Brazilian's battling qualities in Monday's 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 triumph over Wozniacki.
The World No. 21 got the better of the former Grand Slam champion and two-time runner-up at Flushing Meadows in two hours and 41 minutes to advance to her first quarter-final in Queens.
The 28-year-old's run to this stage was unforeseen due to a 40% win rate in New York and never advancing beyond the second round until this year.
Now she seeks a second semi-final appearance and a first since last year's last-four run at Roland Garros.
Having outwitted her opponents with her skilful tennis or outlasted them with her tenacity, Haddad Maia, the first Brazilian woman to reach the US Open quarter-final since Maria Bueno in 1968, aims to secure a semi-final berth at Muchova's expense.
The returning Czechia player will back herself for success despite facing a left-handed opponent that has notched eight victories in her last nine matches, keen to build on her previous and recent success in New York.
Muchova's latest triumph saw her impress against French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini to clinch a straight-set 6-3, 6-3 win over the Italian despite starting slowly and having to show some of her best tennis with the crowd cheering for her opponent.
The upshot of Monday's victory puts the No. 52 player on the women's tour into another Grand Slam quarter-final, and she hopes 2023's experience of advancing to the tournament's semis stands her in good stead for Wednesday's battle.
Muchova's current ranking — a consequence of an extended absence from the tour — does not reflect the 28-year-old's playing ability and expertise, with the one-time French Open finalist and two-time semi-finalist impressing with her effortless and aesthetically pleasing tennis en route to another last-eight match.
She has yet to drop a set in four rounds and will back herself to get the better of Haddad Maia, who comparatively has minimal experience in quarter-final matches at Majors.
Tournament so far
Beatriz Haddad Maia:
First round: vs. Elina Avanesyan 4-6 6-0 6-2
Second round: vs. Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2 6-1
Third round: vs. Anna Kalinskaya 6-3 6-1
Round of 16: vs. Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 3-6 6-3
Karolina Muchova:
First round: vs. Katie Volynets 6-3 7-5
Second round: vs. Naomi Osaka 6-3 7-5[5]
Third round: vs. Anastasia Potapova 6-4 6-2
Round of 16: vs. Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-3
Head To Head
Cagnes-Sur-Mer (2016) - Qualifying R3: Muchova 7-5 6-1
Ostrava (2022) - Round of 32: Muchova 6-4 6-4
Cincinnati (2023) - Round of 64: Muchova 6-7(3) 6-1 6-4
Muchova holds a 3-0 head-to-head record against Haddad Maia, with victories on clay and hard courts.
The Czechia player has lost only one set to the higher-placed opponent, notably in their last meeting at last year's WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati, where Haddad Maia could not secure victory despite claiming the first set.
We say: Muchova to win in two sets
Although Haddad Maia is ranked higher, Muchova is the marginal favourite to claim success in their fourth meeting on tour if she plays anywhere near her best tennis and is unencumbered by the troublesome wrist that kept her out for several months.
