Australian Open: Karolina Muchova stages an epic comeback, stuns Pliskova
Number 25 seed Karolina Muchova staged an emphatic comeback to defeat Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 7-5 in the third round of the Australian Open. The 24-year-old rallied from 0-5 down to win the last seven games of the match, thereby booking her first appearance in the second week in Melbourne. Before this match, the two had won one each against each other. Here is more.
The first set saw a neck-to-neck competition as both Muchova and Pliskova were on charge. In the 11th game, a double-fault from Pliskova on break-point handed advantage to Muchova, who eventually took the set 7-5. Pliskova then surged to a 5-0 lead in the second set. However, Muchova made a terrific recovery at 6-5, winning the match point through an 11-shot rally.
The former world number one, Pliskova, earned a point penalty at the start of second set for racquet abuse. It is understood that she went into the tunnel and smashed her racquet in frustration. This prompted a code violation for something she did out of the chair umpire's view. Veteran British chair umpire Alison Hughes said, "You're not allowed to do it off court."
Speaking on her win, the victorious Muchova said, "I had a lull in the start of the second set. But still, on her serve I had few breakpoints, I just didn't use them. It's about a few points. I just believed that I can still make it." "I saw that she was a bit nervous and shaky. Definitely was as well about the head."
It is interesting to note that Muchova endured a first-round loss to Pliskova at the Australian Open 2019. Later on, she became the first player to reach the quarter-finals at her Wimbledon debut since Li Na in 2006. Muchova will now face either Gippsland Trophy champion Elise Mertens or number 11 seed Belinda Bencic for a spot in her second major quarter-finals.
