Karolina Muchova shares footage from return to practice after wrist surgery

Karolina Muchova, last year's Roland Garros finalist, won't be recovered from recent wrist surgery in time to compete in Paris, but the Czech shared encouraging news on her social media channels this week: She's back practicing.

"Kinda missed this feeling," Muchova wrote Wednesday alongside a video hitting balls on an indoor hard court, which was overlayed with the caption, "Life recently."

The 27-year-old Czech reached her first Grand Slam final at the clay-court major last spring, saving match point in a stunning semifinal win over Aryna Sabalenka from 5-2 down in the deciding set. That heralded what was a breakthrough season for Muchova in 2023, which also saw her reach the US Open semifinals, break the world's Top 10, and qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico.

However, she did not compete again last year after losing to Coco Gauff in New York, withdrawing from Cancun and ending her season early due to a wrist injury. She later withdrew from the Australian Open, admitting frustration at the recurring problem, and announced in February that she had surgery.

"So here I am, tired and sad, but I know I'll be OK now," Muchova wrote on social media this winter after surgery. "The surgery was successful and I'm gonna do all I can to see you on the court again soon."

Though she only recently returned to hitting tennis balls, Muchova has been keeping active in her recovery.

In April, she ran the Prague Half-Marathon with the organization Running With Those That Can't, a Czech charity that promotes physical activity and wellness for special-needs children. Muchova was one of multiple able-bodied runners who pushed the children in special sports wheelchairs along the 13.1-mile course in a race that's been run since 1999.

"Speed was secondary; what mattered was the journey we embarked on together," she wrote. "Our goal transcended personal achievements, aiming to give every child the joy of the race and the liberating rush of the wind. Though the marathon tested our limits, it ended in a triumph of collective will, where every runner, every stride, marked a victory. A memorable half marathon for all, powered by heart."

Muchova reached a career-high world No. 8 in the WTA rankings last September after the US Open. Due to her inactivity, she's currently No. 14.