With their five-year rivalry split at two wins apiece, Osaka began the match in confident fashion, serving her way to a 5-4 lead and clinching the first break of the match to claim the opening set in just over 40 minutes.
Muchova left the court for a medical timeout but nonetheless gained momentum by breaking serve to open the second set. Osaka responded with aplomb, hitting through the Czech’s famed cat-and-mouse craft to break straight back and hold serve with her 16th winner of the match.
Muchova dug out of a 15-30 deficit in the eighth game and found an opening of her own, increasingly matching Osaka’s weight of shot. Osaka saved one break point with a forehand winner but narrowly missed a backhand on the second, giving Muchova the chance to serve out the set.
Osaka dialed back in on the brink of a decider, claiming a love-break for 5-5 as the match ticked towards the 90-minute mark. The two-time US Open champ saved two more break points and continued hitting through Muchova to edge into a 6-5 advantage, one game from the semifinals.
