Karolina Muchova snaps Coco Gauff losing streak to reach Stuttgart semifinals

Karolina Muchova claimed her first victory over Coco Gauff in seven attempts, outlasting the No. 2 seed, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 to reach the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix semifinals.

Muchova had won just one set against Gauff in their hitherto lopsided rivalry, most recently suffering a 6-1, 6-1 defeat last month at the Miami Open. But the seventh-seeded Czech weathered a second-set recovery from Gauff to regain her footing in the decider and edge over the finish line in two hours and 24 minutes on Center Court.

Gauff has been in the midst of an impressive run of form through the spring, not only dismantling Muchova in Miami but making it all the way into her first final at the Hard Rock Stadium, where she pushed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to three sets.

She kicked off her Stuttgart campaign with a straightforward win over Liudmila Samsonova on Thursday but struggled early with her range against Muchova, striking a worrying 16 forehand unforced errors through the first set.

Without a first-round bye, Muchova was playing her third match of the week after weathering a three-setter against Elise Mertens in the Round of 16. The former Roland Garros finalist has also enjoyed strong results in 2026, winning her first WTA 1000 title at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open in February.

With the first set in hand, Muchova appeared poised for a shocking end to her Gauff losing streak, but the American showed her trademark tenacity to serve out the second set and force a third.

Muchova buckled down from there, claiming the crucial break of serve in the sixth game and saved three break points to consolidate, ultimately serving out the win to 15.

Awaiting her in the final four is another player with Muchova is yet to beat in Elina Svitolina. The No. 4 seed, Svitolina steeled past Linda Noskova in two close sets to kick off her clay-court swing with a run to the Stuttgart semis. Svitolina’s most recent meeting with Muchova came last year at the Miami Open, where Svitolina won in three sets.