Karolina Muchova, ranked 49th, delivered a remarkable upset by knocking out top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of the China Open on Friday. Muchova clinched the victory with a score of 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 6-4, advancing to the semifinals where she will face either China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen or 17-year-old Russian star Mirra Andreeva for a shot at the final.

The match was significant for Sabalenka, who had been riding high with 15 consecutive wins, having recently secured titles in both Cincinnati and the US Open. Muchova, however, proved to be a formidable opponent, as she had previously defeated Sabalenka in their last two encounters, both of which required a deciding set.

In the tightly contested match, Sabalenka faced three break points early on but held her ground. Muchova also resisted pressure on her serve at 2-1, showcasing her determination. The Belarusian had a set point during Muchova’s serve at 5-4 but lost the opportunity by sending her forehand wide. Despite a double fault that allowed Sabalenka another chance to take the set, Muchova managed to seize her moment in the tiebreak, winning it after an exhilarating rally.

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This marked the first set Sabalenka had dropped since the third round in New York. She responded strongly in the second set, breaking Muchova’s serve early and winning the set with relative ease.

The deciding set was a battle of wills, with neither player able to maintain serve for a stretch. Ultimately, Muchova, who at one point seemed to be struggling against Sabalenka’s powerful play, managed to secure the victory after two hours and 46 minutes on the court.

Muchova, now 28, was once ranked ninth in the world this time last year after reaching the French Open final and the US Open semifinals. However, her 2023 season was cut short by wrist surgery, keeping her sidelined for nearly 10 months before her return this summer.