Stat of the Day: Muchova now 5-0 vs. Top 20 this year

By John Berkok May 04, 2021
Style Points

Emma Raducanu carries BJK Cup momentum—and Team GB's lucky bracelet—into Stuttgart quarterfinals

By Baseline Staff Apr 18, 2024
Style Points

As inseams get higher, Aryna Sabalenka, Stefanos Tsitsipas lead the Great Shorts Debate 🩳

By David Kane Apr 18, 2024
Travel

Destination Tennis: USTA National Campus

By Megan Fernandez Apr 18, 2024
Style Points

Look of the Week: Zendaya aces two looks for Challengers premiere, Venus, Genie & more hit LA red carpet

By Baseline Staff Apr 17, 2024
Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios

Naomi Osaka reflects on the lessons of her past, the reality of her present and hopes for the future

By Baseline Staff Apr 17, 2024
Social

“Lucky charm” Ons Jabeur snaps five-match losing streak in Stuttgart

By Baseline Staff Apr 17, 2024
Pop Culture

Zendaya wants to meet Coco Gauff, while her grandma is 'so excited' for 'Challengers'

By Baseline Staff Apr 17, 2024
The Business of Tennis

Serena Williams open to owning WNBA team, calls women’s sport “overly safe bet”

By Baseline Staff Apr 16, 2024
Your Game

Tales from the stringing room: Strange requests, racing against the clock and more

By Jon Levey Apr 16, 2024

Stat of the Day: Muchova now 5-0 vs. Top 20 this year

She’s lost to a No. 24 and a No. 34 this year, but she’s been flawless against the Top 20.

ByJohn Berkok

Published May 04, 2021

Each day of the week we'll highlight one of the most intriguing numbers or stats of the day...

Advertising

Australian Open semifinalist Karolina Muchova kept her perfect record against Top 20 players this year intact on Tuesday, beating Maria Sakkari in a third-round thriller in Madrid, 6-0, 6-7 (9), 7-5.

There’s very little separating them on the rankings—Sakkari’s No. 19, Muchova No. 20—and there was very little between them on the court, too, with Muchova missing out on two match points in the second set tie-break but eventually closing it out in three sets after two hours and 35 minutes.

“I’m playing here for the first time, and it’s very nice here,” Muchova said afterwards.

“I’ve played some good matches and I’m happy to be in the quarterfinals.”

Muchova went 3-0 against Top 20 players en route to her first Grand Slam semifinal in Melbourne in February, beating No. 6 Karolina Pliskova in the third round, No. 16 Elise Mertens in the fourth round and No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in the quarterfinals. She’s now gone 2-0 against Top 20 players in Madrid this week, beating No. 2 Naomi Osaka in the second round and now No. 19 Sakkari in the third round.

She’s now 11-2 this year, the two losses coming against No. 24 Jennifer Brady (in the semifinals of the Australian Open) and No. 34 Ekaterina Alexandrova (in the first round of Stuttgart).