STUTTGART, Germany — It’s been a long time coming for Karolina Muchova! In a matchup that’s been historically in favor of World No. 3 Coco Gauff, the Czech emerged victorious 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in Stuttgart to get her first win in seven tries against Gauff.<\/p>\n
Stuttgart:\u00a0Scores<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Draws<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Order of play<\/a><\/p>\n Muchova advances to her fourth semifinal of 2026 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, while Gauff bows out of Stuttgart yet to have moved past the quarterfinals in the tournament.<\/p>\n Muchova is now primed for a semifinal showdown with No. 4 seed Elina Svitolina, who’s into her fifth semifinal of the season after defeating Linda Noskova 7-6 (2), 7-5. She’s yet to beat the Ukranian in three meetings, but this will be their first meeting on clay, having last played in Miami third round last year — a Svitolina three-sets win.<\/p>\n As always, Friday was a new chance to take down Gauff, but interestingly, this was their first meeting on clay.\u00a0Muchova notched a decisive break early in the first set, taking a 2-1 lead courtesy of Gauff double fault. Gauff’s 13 unforced errors on her forehand characterized the set, and Muchova’s break in the final game secured the first set — the first time she’s been able to do that vs. Gauff.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I think she’s unbelievable player on clay, Muchova said to press. “I feel her last-year clay season, Roland Garros champion, just incredible mover. So I just knew that I have to play really well to get a chance to win.<\/p>\n “I just tried to play my game, as well. I tried to slice it up, break her rhythm, and it was working today.”<\/p>\n In the second, both Gauff and Muchova showcased top quality initially first half, highlighted by a four-deuce Muchova service game at 2-2, which Gauff eventually scored the break. That started a stretch of four straight breaks, but Muchova dropped serve again at 5-5, sending a backhand long similar to the one that sent the match to a decider.<\/p>\n The trend of timely breaks continued into the third set. After holding at 3-2, Muchova broke Gauff for the fifth and final time to take a 4-2 lead. In the next game, Muchova’s clutch service performance showed, saving three break points to get the match back on serve for Gauff, highlighted by a cross-court backhand that Gauff couldn’t muster enough strength at the net.<\/p>\n Similar to Muchova, Svitolina found away to get a win over an opponent she couldn’t solve, though this was just the third meeting against Noskova. The Ukrainian’s performance was anchored by top-drawer serving and an ability to raise her level in clutch moments.<\/p>\n Svitolina holds off late Noskova charge to reach Stuttgart semis<\/p>\n Svitolina, who landed 70% of her first serves and fired 11 aces in total, did not face a break point until she served for the match at 5-3 in the second set. But Noskova conjured one up with an excellent drop shot, then made full use of her chance by hammering an off forehand winner.<\/p>\n “I talked with my coach briefly to analyze the things that I did well. I think serve really kept me today in the match, and I cannot complain about that,” Svitolina said to press. “Here the ball is flying quite quick through the air, and I’m really happy I could adjust few things and serve really well.”<\/p>\n The Czech’s sudden momentum took her through three straight games as she levelled at 5-5, then held two break points for 6-5. Here, Svitolina demonstrated all her resilience. The World No. 7 saved one with a one-two punch and the second with an ace. Another one-two punch got her the hold, and — in very on-brand fashion — she saved her finest winner for the finishing line, firing a backhand pass past Noskova to break for the match.<\/p>\n In just her third career appearance in Stuttgart, Svitolina advances to the last four for the second time (following 2021). She now owns a 23-5 record in 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STUTTGART, Germany — It’s been a long time coming for Karolina Muchova! 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