Australian Open 2021: Ashleigh Barty stunned by rejuvenated Karolina Muchova after medical timeout

ByJames Kilpatrick

Updated 17/02/2021 at 06:06 GMT

Ash Barty has been knocked out of the Australian Open with Karolina Muchova into her first ever major semi-final. The unprecedented 2021 edition of the Australian Open runs from February 8 until February 21 and Eurosport has all the best action from Melbourne. You can watch the first Grand Slam of the new season live on Eurosport, eurosport.co.uk and the Eurosport app.

Czech 25th seed Karolina Muchova recovers from dizziness to knock out world number one Ash Barty in three sets 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.

Neither player had dropped a set going into the contest, but Barty looked to have turned it into a one-sided affair against the Czech player who looked flat and short of confidence.

But it looked to have been illness-related. Muchova took an extended medical timeout early in the second set and returned rejuvenated to shock one of the favourites to win the slam.

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Muchova will face either Jennifer Brady or Jessica Pegula in the semis.

Highlights: Barty knocked out by Muchova in shock comeback

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• Order of play

The first set was a comfortable affair for 2020 Australian Open semi-finalist Barty who was chasing her maiden Australian Grand Slam title. Barty raced into a 5-0 lead. Muchova saved being bageled by pulling a game back, but the 24-year-old Queenslander wrapped it up in 24 minutes.

The second set started just as quickly with Barty going a break up following a wild Muchova forehand that was her 17th unforced error.

After game three at 2-1, Muchova went off for a medical timeout having appeared unwell. She returned from the locker room after ten minutes entirely refreshed and immediately broke back.

Barty keeps hitting back Muchova's smashes

Muchova started playing with far more aggression, coming to the net a lot more, and it scrambled Barty’s gameplan. The Australian double faulted at 3-4 down to hand Muchova the vital break and ultimately the set.

Momentum was entirely with Muchova and she broke in the opening game of the third with a stunning passing shot.

The 24-year-old never looked back after that, double breaking at 4-2 up before sealing a place in her first ever major semi-final.

MUCHOVA: MY HEAD WAS SPINNING

'A bit lost on court' - Muchova explains medical timeout after shocking Barty

"I was feeling a bit lost by the end of the first set," Muchova said on-court post-match. "Ash started very well she played almost like no mistakes it was very tough.

"I was also a bit lost on the court and my head was spinning so I took a break.

"It helped me and I tried to get back to playing a bit faster so we don’t play long rallies like in the first set and it worked well.

“They just checked my pressure because I was a bit lost I was spinning. They cooled me down a bit with ice and it helped me.

“I just tried to put a ball in and go for it. I played a bit faster going to the net. I think that was the key by the end.

“It was the first time [serving for a major semi-final] but I tried not to think about it. To think about just another ball and focus on that. I’m happy that I handled it well.”

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