Paris, June 9 (FN Agency) Karolina Muchova has spoiled Aryna Sabalenka’s bid to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles by overcoming the world No.2 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5 in a three-hour 13-minute semifinal on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The crafty Czech, ranked 43 in the world, is through to a maiden Grand Slam final, where she awaits Iga Swiatek or Beatriz Haddad Maia.Sabalenka served for the win at 5-4 but Muchova took the next three games to complete the upset and break new ground. Despite the loss, Sabalenka still has a chance to replace Iga Swiatek as world No.1. Swiatek must defeat Beatriz Haddad Maia in their upcoming semifinal to keep her spot at the summit of the rankings. The 43rd-ranked Muchova was bound to make this a game of cat and mouse, wholly aware she could not out-muscle the might of Sabalenka in baseline exchanges if the second seed was on her game. The 26-year-old could rattle her rhythm though, drawing on a full kit of backhand slices, pace changes and deft placement.
Fearless at net, the Czech did just that as she dug herself out of a hole to level at 4-all and brought up her first break point a game later with an assertive forehand volley winner. Serving out the set was a taller order. Sabalenka came roaring back and saved a set point in the process, but after 69 minutes her opponent skipped to the chair with the tiebreak in the bag. She only looked to be gathering steam when she surged to the early break in the second set, but instead it set off a string of tit-for-tat shifts in momentum. With a tour-leading 34 match wins already this season and her back to the wall, Sabalenka found her authoritative best to level at 5-all and she needed it to prolong this showdown. She did so after two hours and 12 minutes and cracked open the deciding set with a break in the sixth game.It was all or nothing for Muchova as she faced a match point on her own serve at 2-5.A final twist was in store with Sabalenka unable to contain string and mental tension woes and a rampant opponent who reeled off the final five games of the contest.