Karolina Muchova reached the semi-finals of the US Open on Wednesday with a straight sets win over Beatriz Haddad Maia, despite feeling ill and needing to leave the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium several times during the match.
The Czech received medical treatment and made a swift exit off the court 4 times for comfort breaks, beating Haddad Maia, 6-1 6-4, to reach the Last 4 for the second successive year.
An Arthur Ashe quote that appears above the players’ entrance at the stadium named after him in New York, helped the 28-year old Czech through her ordeal:
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
“It’s written here on the court like, you know, Ashe’s thing… do what you can with all you have today, or something like that,” Muchova said, adding that she was fighting off a bug.
“So I was keeping that in mind.”
Muchova, the only unseeded player in the semi-finals, was grabbing her hip between points and left the court with the physio during the second set.
“It never happened to me before, but I really needed to go off the court when I get a chance to go,” she said. “I don’t like to do it, but I had no other choice.”
It made no difference to the result, as Muchova prevailed in straight sets over Haddad Maia, who had to deal with an issue of her own.
Both Haddad Maia and Muchova faced physical difficulties in the second set, at the same time.
The Czech is playing just her 6th tournament back after undergoing right-wrist surgery in February, and had to deal with a stomach bug that caused her to rush off the court, while the Brazilian appeared to have some trouble breathing, and, at one point, had three medics tending to her.
“It was a little weird match, I have to say,” Muchova said. “I had the problems, having to run to the bathroom and back. I’m happy how I managed it.
“I’m really happy to be back in the semis. I wouldn’t have imagined that before the tournament, it’s going to be very tough next and a very exciting match.”
“But then, I always try to focus on: what’s the first step I can do towards recovery? I had really great team of doctors. I’m very grateful that I’m here playing pain-free.”
