With Ashleigh Barty winning the first set of her quarterfinal against Karolina Muchova in just 24 minutes, the Czech's run at the Australian Open seemed over. Instead, Muchova dug in, and pulled off a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 upset of the world No. 1.
"I think it's a goal you're setting up when you're playing tennis," Muchova said. "For me, at least, it's the majors, the Grand Slams, to go far. For me to be in semifinal, as you said, it's like a dream and I'm really happy for that."
She had dreamed of Rod Laver Arena, in particular
"I actually have one memory from here when I was a kid and got my first notebook," the world No. 27 said. "I put as a wallpaper Rod Laver, the stadium. I was just, like, I hope one day it would be nice to play there or to look at the arena or whatever."
It marks the first time Muchova has been this far at a Grand Slam, having previously been to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2019. Like every winner in Melbourne Park, Muchova took to the camera with a sharpie, and her artwork left people puzzled:
