Key events
At 30-40, Wang finds a first serve and Muchova can’t return, but a forehand gives her advantage and this time she secures the set, pounding on a short ball to crack a backhand winner for 6-4. Ultimately, there’s a large class difference in the matchup, and that’s what we’re seeing on the court.
With Muchova serving for the set, Wang makes 30-all, a double gives 30-40 … and Wang steps in on a second serve, smiting another backhand to retrieve one of her breaks for 3-5. Her problem is what to do in all other situations.
A terrific switch of attack from Muchova, cross on the forehand with Wang expecting line, gives her two break points … and she only needs one, a forehand winner giving her her third break on the spin and a 5-2 lead.
Meantime in the doubles, Cash and Patten have been broken and now trail 3-5.
Muchova makes 40-0 but two tame points and Wang has a sniff at 40-30, al the more so facing a second serve … which completes a deuce-inducing double. From there, though, an overhead from a way back, superbly despatched, is followed by a backhand winner cross-court right onto the line and that’s 4-2.
Wang can’t be getting involved in net exchanges with a player with hands like Muchova, but she does and finds herself 15-30 down; a forehand winner clobbered down the line follows. And Wang can’t withstand the pressure, netting tamely on break point to trail 3-2. I daresay Muchova takes greater care with her consolidation attempt this time.
Muchova can’t outhit everyone – it’s part of what made her performance against Saba so good, though no one can turn it up like she can – but she’s outhitting Wang, which spells big trouble. But as I type, Wang punishes a second serve with a big forehand for 15-30. Muchova responds with a gorgeously-disguised backhand drop but a double hands over break-back point … quickly retrieved by a return which flies long. Muchova, though, can’t close out through deuce, finding herself facing advantage, and when Wang’s offered a second serve out to her favoured backhand, she powers a return cross-court that’s too hot and the riposte dumps into the net. It’s 2-2.
I am now doublesed. It’s 2-2.
As I’m trying to get the doubles on, Muchova breaks Wang for 2-1, and she looks in nick. I really enjoy her clever use of spins and angles – more than Wang, I think.
Muchova and Wang are away, likewise Cash/Patten and Bopanna/Ebden.
I didn’t mention this is the preamble, but regular readers of this blog will be familiar with Calv Betton, the coach who supplies us with insight and analysis. Well his charge, Henry Patten, along with his partner, Julian Cash, is playing in the last 16 of the men’s doubles first up today. Their opponents, Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden, are seeded six, but let’s hope they get a talking-to.
Here come Muchova and Wang!
Also going on:
Preamble
Yo dudes! And welcome to the US Open 2023 – day seven!
It’s getting real isn’t it? Ooooh yeah! We begin today with one of this blog’s favourites, Karolína Muchová, whose brilliant performance in beating Aryna Sabalenka at Roland-Garros suggested a player ready to take the next step. She did lose in the final, but there’s no shame in being bested by Iga Swiatek, and it’s hard to see her not finding a way past the unseeded Wang Xiyu.
Ashe, meanwhile, gets going with Tommy Paul, the number 14 seed, against Brian Shelton. But it’s our second match that really catches the eye, Caroline Wozniacki returning from retirement with every bit of the moxie that defined her first act … to face Coco Gauff, the prodigy-veteran who’s now improving at an invigorating pace.
And there’s plenty else besides! After Muchová v Wang we’ve got Sorana Cirstea, conquerer of Elena Rybakina, against Belinda Bencic, the Olympic champ who might finally be getting the hang of Grand Slam progression. Then, following them, Francis Tiafoe – another beginning to control his talent – meets Rinky Hijikata, the unseeded young Aussie, and the day sesh rounds out with the brilliant Swiss teenager, Dominic Stricker – who qualified then despatched Stefanos Tsitsipas – taking on the number nine seed, Taylor Fritz. Let’s go, dudes!