Victoria Mboko will have to wait to serve her revenge against Karolina Muchova as the Czech once again got the better of the Canadian No. 1, defeating the teen 7-5, 7-6(5) in the Miami Open presented by Itaú quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The two last met on the WTA 1000 finals stage, when Muchova beat Mboko for the Doha title last month.
The 19-year-old from Burlington tallied 24 unforced errors and a majority came in the opening set, committing 14 with 13 of those coming on the forehand. Muchova was cool under pressure throughout the match, saving both break points she faced and getting herself out of a few love-30 holes, mostly thanks to her 31 winners on the day.
Mboko gave Muchova an early warning to begin the match. The Canadian’s power gave her some success in the longer rallies as she was able to turn 30-love into a break point in the Czech’s opening service game. The world No. 14 held her nerve though, avoiding the early break.
The threat was well-received by Muchova, conceding just two points in her next three service games, with one coming off a double fault. The set remained deadlocked at 4-4.
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At 4-5, Mboko was two-points away from sealing the opener but some fearless net play from the Czech No. 2 got her out of the love-30 hole to extend the set. Muchova’s chance to pull ahead came at an opportune time – 5-5, 30-40 – and the 29-year-old converted to then try to serve out the first.
Muchova got third-time’s lucky in the 12th game, finally capitalizing on set point three and wrapping up the opener.
The Czech stayed a perfect seven for seven in her net points to start the second, putting away the volley to hold an early break point at 30-40 in the first game. Mboko prevented the second consecutive loss of serve and began her search for a vital advantage in the set. However, Muchova was solid on her delivery, conceding just four first-serve points in as many games to bring the set to 4-4.
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Mboko saved her opportunity to break at 4-5, 30-40, sitting one point from an equalizer, but Muchova was brave and won the next three points, holding the rest of the way to force a tiebreaker.
The Czech was quickly more than halfway to taking the tiebreak after winning the first four points to lead 4-0. Mboko got a mini-break back to put some slight pressure on Muchova then, at 6-4, the Canadian saved match point on return and had the chance to level on her delivery. The 19-year-old went for the drop shot, but Muchova chased it down and produced a drop shot of her own to book her ticket to the Miami semis.
Feature Photo: Sarah-Jade Champagne
