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Czech Karolina Muchova saved a match point before battling back from the brink against Aryna Sabalenka to reach the French Open women’s singles final where she will face defending champion Iga Swiatek.
Muchova, the world No 43, won 20 of the last 24 points to upset the second seed 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 in a contest lasting three hours and 13 minutes, while Swiatek was given by far her best battle of the tournament so far by Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia before the world No 1 came through 6-2 7-6 (9-7).
Sabalenka, who was bidding to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles after lifting the Australian Open trophy, appeared to have turned things in her favour but tightened up in sight of the line and Muchova made her pay.
The 26-year-old is the fourth lowest-ranked woman to reach the final here, while it is the fifth year in a row that the final will feature an unseeded player.
A delighted Muchova said: “I don’t really know what happened. The atmosphere, it’s unbelievable. I just tried to keep fighting and it worked. I’m so happy.”
The Czech was playing in her second major semi-final having also reached the last four at the Australian Open in 2021, but injuries severely restricted her last year, with her ranking dropping outside the top 200.
Muchova has been climbing rapidly this year, though, and can break into the top 10 by lifting the trophy.
Sabalenka, who has garnered attention off the court for opting out of media duties after being grilled about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the start of the tournament by one journalist, made the faster start but Muchova grew steadily into the match and made the first big move, breaking for 5-4.
Back came Sabalenka immediately, though, a forehand winner saving a set point and then more crunching groundstrokes earning her the break.
It was a compelling contest between the raw power and aggression of Sabalenka and the more subtle skills of Muchova, who gave a masterful display of using angles and changes of direction as well as being very willing to come to the net.
She is not averse to a winner, too, and produced one from the top drawer on her second set point at 6-5 in the tie-break, drilling a backhand down the line.
Muchova then exploited her opponent’s disappointment to break at the start of the second, and the old Sabalenka might have fallen away quickly in a barrage of errors.
But the Belarusian has beaten her biggest rivals this season with an unshakeable commitment to attacking tennis and she regrouped well.
From 0-2 she moved a break ahead at 4-3 only for Muchova to bounce back, but Sabalenka confidently served twice to stay in the match, setting up another tie-break.
Nerves were evident from both and Sabalenka double-faulted on her first set point but powered away an overhead on the second.
Sabalenka appeared to be in control at 5-2 up in the third set
The second seed probed for an immediate break at the start of the decider and, although Muchova did superbly to withstand that, a break for 4-2 gave Sabalenka some daylight.
The match appeared over when she forced a first match point at 5-2 but Muchova saved it confidently, and Sabalenka then became edgy, throwing in her worst service game of the match.
At 5-5, Sabalenka, who overcame serving yips last year, sent down back-to-back double faults and Muchova seized her opportunity.
Swiatek on course for Roland Garros hat-trick
Iga Swiatek was given by far her best battle of the tournament so far
Brazilian Haddad Maia showed her intent from the first game, breaking Swiatek to love, but the Pole already has a formidable record at Roland Garros and hit back swiftly and strongly to take the first set.
The second was a real ding-dong battle, with Haddad Maia moving 3-1 ahead and pushing for another break after Swiatek, who had not lost more than four games in a set, fought back.
It was a similar story in the tie-break, with Haddad Maia up 5-3 and creating a set point at 6-5, but she netted a tight forehand.
The 14th seed produced a stunning forehand down the line to save Swiatek’s first match point but on the second she powered away a forehand to claim victory.
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