Bartunkova Stuns Muchova in Beijing to Reach First WTA 1000 Semifinal

Nikola Bartunkova's dream week in Beijing keeps getting better. Two days after shocking Aryna Sabalenka, the Czech produced another stunning upset at the China Open on Thursday, overpowering seventh seed Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals to reach the first WTA 1000 semifinal of her career. Bartunkova was dominant from the start of the all-Czech clash, converting five of sixteen break points and putting constant pressure on Muchova's serve. Muchova, this year's Wimbledon finalist, never found her rhythm and looked every bit a player ready for the season to end, while Bartunkova played with the freedom of someone with nothing to lose. It is the biggest win of Bartunkova's career and caps a remarkable breakthrough: before this week, she had never even reached the quarterfinal stage of a 1000-level event. Back-to-back wins over Sabalenka and Muchova — two of the tour's biggest names — announce her as one of the most dangerous floaters left in the draw as the Beijing semifinals take shape.