Muchova Shines as the New 'Baby Federer' at the US Open

Muchova's Rise at the US Open

NEW YORK—First, there was Richard Gasquet, the original high-skill player dubbed, “Baby Federer.” Then came Baby Federer 2.0, in the form of Grigor Dimitrov. But neither man has put paid to the nickname by appearing in a Grand Slam final, never mind winning 20 of them.

It may not have occurred to anyone, but the most legitimate claimant to the mantle of Federer is a 28-year old, injury-ravaged native of Olomouc, Czechia who plays on the WTA Tour, Karolina Muchova.

Muchova's Impressive Performance

On Wednesday at the US Open, Muchova advanced to the fourth Grand Slam semifinal of her career. Fighting a stomach virus (it forced her to unexpectedly leave the court for a bathroom break at one point) as well as Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia and her left-handed juju, Muchova won in an hour and 25 minutes, 6-1, 6-4. This is a woman who has every shot in the book, including one that Federer did not: a stinging two-handed backhand. She is so smooth her middle name ought to be “Butter.” Muchova is light on her feet, and her stroke production, from sliced backhands to high-kicking serves, radiates the same elegance that helped make Federer a household name. But there the comparison ends.

Challenges and Injuries

If Muchova has yet to join the elite cadre of Czech Grand Slam tennis champions, it may be because of her frailty. She’s been plagued by injury since her junior days, her career a collection of impressive fragments strewn about the calendar like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

“I don’t even like to talk about injuries,” Muchova said after her win, when asked how she manages to bounce back from them. “But yeah, it depends what kind of injury. I’ve been through a lot of them. This last one, the wrist surgery, was one of the worst ones that I had.”