Muchova was reaching for the semifinals. In the end, her journey at Indian Wells is over

Karolína Muchová was the last Czech player left in the Indian Wells tournament. In the quarterfinals she challenged the world top ten, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and was more than a match for her. The match was decided by the details, which in the end were better handled by the Kazakh.

The Czech player is back to her old form after a protracted injury and is gradually climbing up the WTA rankings. After withdrawing from the quarterfinals of the tournament in Dubai, she managed to sneak back into the top eight players at the Indian Wells event.

However, the road to this stage of the tournament was not easy for Muchova and three matches had to be decided in the third set. And the match against Elena Rybakina (10th) was no exception.

The first set featured many interesting exchanges in which both players tried to hold their own serve at all costs. For the first time, the Czech player was able to enjoy a break point, taking her chance in the fifth game.

Then the 26-year-old Czech managed to hold her serve and in the tenth game she had the first set point of the match. But her opponent did not lay down her arms and managed to turn the game in her favour. The first set had to be decided by a shortened game.

The Moscow native fared much better in it, taking advantage of her opponent’s hesitation and successfully turning the first set around – 6-7(4).

However, a much more focused Karolína Muchová entered the second set and gave Rybakina no chance to get close to a break. The native of Olomouc held her serve very well and deservedly could rejoice in winning the second set 6-2.

In the last set it was clear that the details would decide. Unfortunately, in the third game Muchová came under pressure when she allowed two break points to her opponent. Rybakina was able to convert one of them and jumped out to a 1-3 lead.

Muchova tried to do something about the result. But she made unforced errors, and Rybakina added very accurate and hard shots to her great serve. Even a 30-0 lead in the tenth game on the Kazakh’s serve was not enough – 4-6.

Karolína Muchová (76th) – Elena Rybakina (10th, Kazakhstan) – 6-7(4), 6-2, 4-6

Karolína Muchová said goodbye to the tournament in Indian Wells in the quarterfinals. She will then move on to Miami, where she will face another tough battle for points in the WTA rankings. There, the Czech is sure to move back into the top 50.

Elena Rybakinova will face the winner of the night match between world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Sorana Cirste (83rd) in the semifinals.

Sources: Twitter, WTA