Photo | Robert Prange/Getty Images
I woke up this morning excited about the idea of having a Monday off, still trying to reset my body clock back on West Coast time after a whirlwind week in New York. I was also excited about the match that would be on in an hour, confident it would be a great match, and that it was Jasmine Paolini’s destiny to win the U.S. Open after reaching the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year.
After feeding the cats, I decided to put on some music and settle in with the first installation of my morning coffee trilogy. Ironically, Kendrick Lamar’s "B*tch Don’t Kill My Vibe,” the ultimate anthem for anyone trying to protect their peace, came on shuffle. I had my drink, I had my music, the perfect combination for dodging drama, deflecting negativity, and embracing my inner zen—because nothing kills my vibe faster than bad coffee, or in today's case, the talented, five eleven Czech, Karolina Muchova.
It’s one thing to have a favorite tennis player lose a match. It's another thing entirely when two of your favorites are in the same part of the draw and both get taken out in the same week. That's exactly what happened at the 2024 US Open, Muchova thus far has spared no one in her path, including a couple of my favorite players. And she's done it with style, and grace, and surgical precision.
On Arthur Ashe Stadium Thursday night the atmosphere was electric, excited to see if Naomi Osaka could recapture the magic she once created on the largest stage in tennis. Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, took the court, and I knew it wouldn’t be a cakewalk. After a great start in the first round against Jelena Ostapenko, the second round would provide a huge test to examine exactly how well Osaka's power game would stand up against Muchova's dynamic style and versatility.
Muchova, a player who, if you’re not careful, will quietly and unassumingly run up on your favorites and pull the rug out from under them. Ranked outside the Top 50, her season has had its ups and down, thanks to a wrist surgery that kept her off the court for the better part of the year. Now healthy and finding her groove, she’s been playing wonderfully, and was definitely looking to neutralize Osaka’s power and momentum.
From the start, it was clear Muchova meant business, and was clearly feeling herself. The first set was a masterclass in variety and skill. Muchova unleashed her creative, all-court game with a precision that had Naomi scrambling and out of rhythm for most of the first set.
Muchova utilized all the cheat codes. Drop shots that made Naomi freeze. A "SABR" (Sneak Attack By Roger) that even Federer himself would have been proud of. Muchova took the first set 6-3, cruising with relative ease.
In the second set, Osaka would look to redeem herself. She started strong, and got an early break of Muchova’s serve, but Muchova was not easily rattled. She hung around long enough for Osaka to give away set points while serving up 40-0 at 5-4 in the second set. From there, Muchova would go on to force a tiebreak. And before anyone could even process what had happened, it was all over. Muchova had won 6-3, 7-6 (5), and Naomi Osaka was out of the US Open. Just like that.
With Osaka’s exit, here I was this morning with a bright glimmer of hope left: Jasmine Paolini, my ride or die, who has been having an incredible year. Could Paolini beat the odds again, and continue her incredible 2024 Grand Slam success?
Muchova, after a clean two set victory over Anastasia Potopova in the third round, was riding a tidal wave of confidence and momentum coming into the fourth round. A wave that was just too big and too strong for Paolini’s small frame. A few early unforced errors and some hesitation at the net gave Muchova all the opening she'd need, and she'd pounce at every opportunity. Slices, drop shots, and clean net play rained down on Paolini until Muchova had broken her down 6-3, 6-3, in just 69 minutes.
As I sat there, processing the fact that both Naomi Osaka and Jasmine Paolini were out of the US Open thanks to the same player, I realized something. Maybe—just maybe—Muchova was on her way to becoming one of my favorites too. After all, it takes a special kind of player to leave this much of an impact on a fan, even if it came via disappointment.
Yeah, it was hard to watch two of my favorites get dismantled, but that's not to take anything away from Karolina Muchova. I’ve always known she’s been capable of playing such beautiful, well-rounded tennis if her body would let her for an extended period of time. It’s great to see her healthy and back on the court again, reaching into the depths of her toolbox, and leveraging her skills to perfection and thus, landing her in the quarterfinals of the last Grand Slam of the year.
She’s the kind of player who reminds us that tennis, like life, is unpredictable and challenging. And sometimes, overcoming the unpredictability and the challenges are what makes it all so exciting—the way she’s playing, she’s not killing vibes, she’s creating them.
