French Open day 12: Karolina Muchova’s rollercoaster ride, Paris set for blockbuster
We look back at day 12 from the French Open as Karolina Muchova produced one of the shocks by upsetting Aryna Sabalenka to reach her first Grand Slam final.
Muchova came from 5-2 down in the final set, saving a match point, to win 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 7-5 and will take on defending champion Iga Swiatek, who survived her first test, beating Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 7-6 (9-7).
Swiatek became the fourth youngest woman to reach three French Open finals with only Monica Seles, Steffi Graf and Chris Evert younger. She is hoping to win her fourth Grand Slam having also won the US Open last year.
Miyu Kato found Paris redemption in the mixed doubles, winning the title with German Tim Puetz after her disqualification from the women’s doubles.
Picture of the day
Iga Swiatek delight
Goal achieved
Beatriz Haddad Maia exited in the semi-final, but she achieved her first goal and some more.
“Our first goal was to go to the third round,” the world number 14 said. “We worked very hard, and me and my team deserve and need to be very proud of ourselves, because it’s not easy to be in this stage.
“I think this match and this week will bring me a lot of things to improve, things that we learn to build our game, our mentality.”
Stat of the day
Ashleigh Barty (world No 1 in 2021), Aryna Sabalenka (world No 2 in 2023) and Karolina Pliskova (world No 3 in 2019)
5- Karolina Muchova has won all her matches against players ranked in the world’s top three.
Enjoying the rollercoaster ride
Karolina Muchova looked down and out in the deciding set, but somehow managed to get over the line.
💬 “It’s been a rollercoaster, 2-5 in the third but I knew it was just one break down”
Muchova stayed patiente and compose in order to come back and win in the third ⤵️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/NcZHSv5Wsl
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2023
Tweet of the day
Never found my game at @rolandgarros this year, but was fighting with my heart in every match ❤️🔥 love Paris ❤️ pic.twitter.com/s6omnyFtpW
— Holger Rune (@holgerrune2003) June 8, 2023
Quote of the day
Miyu, sitting here today, not crying anymore, I think is a great thing. I think this is a good end to this whole story. – Tim Puetz on partner Miyu Kato’s Parisian redemption
Kato, of course, was disqualified from the womens doubles with her partner Aldila Sutjiadi after the Japanese player accidentally hit a ball girl.
Who’s up next?
The men’s finalists will be decided at Roland Garros on Friday.
The blockbuster match comes first up when world number one Carlos Alcaraz meets Novak Djokovic for only the second time in a generational clash for supremacy in the men’s game.
The second encounter, meanwhile, sees Casper Ruud trying to make a second final in two years against Alexander Zverev, whose semi-final here last year against Rafael Nadal ended with him leaving the court in a wheelchair.
