Muchova edges teen Mboko to reach first Miami Open semi-final

Tennis - WTA 1000 - Qatar Open - International Tennis and Squash complex, Doha, Qatar - February 14, 2026 Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova celebrates after winning her final match against... Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab March 24 (Reuters) - Karolina Muchova needed all of her experience to hold off rising Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko 7-5 7-6(5) on Tuesday, booking ​a place in her first Miami Open semi-final in ‌a match she admitted could have gone either way. The 29-year-old Czech secured her fifth WTA 1000 semi-final berth in a hard-fought contest that lasted ​one hour and 47 minutes. "It was very close, basically one ​point at the end. It can always change in ⁠tennis. I'm just very grateful I was able to win ​the last point," Muchova said. The opening set was a tight affair, ​remaining on serve until 5-4 when Muchova found herself in trouble at 0-30 before reeling off four consecutive points to level at five games all. She ​then capitalised on a shaky service game from World number nine ​Mboko to edge ahead, eventually converting on her third set point to take ‌the ⁠opener. The second set proved no easier, with both players holding serve all the way to a tiebreak. Muchova seized control with an early mini-break and kept her nerve to close out the ​match. "She's an amazing ​player. Every time ⁠you play a top-10 player you go on the court and you don't know who's gonna ​win, who's gonna lose," she added. "I tried to ​stay focused ⁠and stay aggressive." The win extends Muchova's excellent run, having now reached the fourth round or better at all five tournaments she has played in ⁠2026, ​including beating Mboko to claim the Doha ​title in February. She will face either American Coco Gauff or Switzerland's Belinda Bencic in ​Thursday's semi-final. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab