A career-defining clash beckons as these two first-time Australian Open women’s singles semifinalists eye a coveted place in Saturday’s title decider.
Hunger won’t be an issue for either player, who have stormed through their opponents this fortnight, dropping a sole set each. Notably, the Czech is the highest-ranked challenger to Brady so far, with the American facing off against only one seed – 28th seed Donna Vekic – en route to the final four.
Comparatively, 24 year-old Muchova has dispatched a trio of big names: sixth seed Karolina Pliskova and 18th seed Elise Mertens in straight sets, and world no. 1 Ash Barty in three sets, to reach Day 11.
MORE: Barty boilover: Muchova outlasts local hero
Brady, 25, is firing on all cylinders, landing 81 per cent of returns in and remaining clutch in key moments, having saved 16 of 22 break points. She’ll be searching for easy points on serve, having struck 24 aces through her first five matches to ascend to equal third on the tournament leaderboard alongside Barty and behind only Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams, who are contesting the first women’s semifinal.
The Floridian enters the match with fresher legs, having spent about two hours less on court than Muchova through the first ten days, and will be hoping the experience of reaching her maiden major semifinal at last year’s US Open provides an edge.
“It definitely helps overall confidence, really just knowing that I belong at this level, I can compete in the second week of Grand Slams consistently, and hope to continue to do that consistently,” she said.
MORE: Battle-hardened Brady powers into second slam semi
Brady also has a more respectable winner-to-unforced errors ratio of 110 to 108, to her younger opponent’s 111 to 146, one that she’ll look to improve on to ensure success. The American will also take lessons from her quarterfinal battle against friend and rival Jessica Pegula, where she admitted pressed too much early on before finding her rhythm.
Looking ahead to a potential final, Brady said she hopes to play Williams before the 23-time major champion retires and that she’s grateful to share a draw with her countrywoman. “She's the greatest of all time,” said Brady.
Of her next opponent though, American 25 year-old described the right-handed Muchova as crafty and athletic. “She looks to move forward, has an all-court game ... I hope it will be a good, competitive match.”
The talented Czech youngster has reasons to be confident ahead of the bout, having demonstrated an ability to play gutsy, clutch tennis in Melbourne and saving 30 of 45 break points so far at AO 2021.
“For me to be in [a] semifinal ... it’s like a dream and I’m really happy,” she said after upsetting Barty. The affable title contender remembered selecting an image of Rod Laver Arena as her first laptop wallpaper.
“I thought one day it would be nice to play there or to look at the arena or whatever ... now, I just won a match and [made] it to semifinals, it's amazing,” gushed Muchova, who will once again be battling in the arena that was once just her screen background.
She also has the psychological advantage over Brady, winning the duo’s only prior meeting in a three-set tiebreak in Prague in May 2019.
There, the pair broke once each despite creating a total of 13 break points, and neither will want to let such opportunities slip this time around.
“She is a very good player, very big strokes, fast ones, so [it’s] definitely going to be [a] tough battle,” Muchova said.
“I think I will have to bring my A game to play with her because she is really playing amazing matches.”