Karolína Muchová Edges Naomi Osaka on Ninth Match Point In 2-Hour 52-Minute Epic
Karolína Muchová survived an absolute epic against Naomi Osaka, winning 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(7) in a breathtaking 2-hour and 52-minute fourth-round battle at the China Open. The match was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts. Muchová fought back from a 4-1 deficit in the opening set to steal it, before Osaka roared back with dominant hitting to easily claim the second set. The deciding set saw Muchová once again chase the score from 3-1 down, forcing a tense, dramatic tiebreak. After a flurry of missed chances and high-stakes drama, Muchová finally converted on her ninth match point to seal the victory. The win advanced Muchová to the quarterfinals in Beijing and marked her third head-to-head win over Osaka in 2026, leaving the Czech star admitting she was "shaking" from the intensity of the finish.
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, leaves the court after losing a match to Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, in the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, left, hugs Naomi Osaka, of Japan, after winning the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, celebrates after defeating Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, returns a ball to Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, returns a ball to Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, during the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, returns a ball to Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, returns a ball to Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, during the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, returns a ball to Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, returns a ball to Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, during the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
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