Karolina Muchova celebrates after defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia in a match at the U.S. Open, in New York, on Sept. 4.Kirsty Wigglesworth/The Associated Press
Karolina Muchova is back in the U.S. Open semi-finals for the second straight year, punctuating her return from wrist surgery by beating No. 22 Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday.
Muchova lost to eventual champion Coco Gauff in the 2023 semis in Flushing Meadows, then missed nearly 10 months after sustaining a wrist injury during the tournament.
The Czech returned to action in June just before Wimbledon, and a little more than two months later she is into her fourth career Grand Slam semi-final.
Muchova will face top-seeded Iga Swiatek or No. 6 Jessica Pegula on Thursday in the semi-finals.