Karolina Muchova stuns Aryna Sabalenka to reach French Open final - ESPN

PARIS — Unseeded Karolina Muchova reached her first Grand Slam final at the last place she expected, saving a match point and using a stirring comeback to grab the last five games despite dealing with leg problems for a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory over No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open on Thursday.

Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open in January, was a point from finishing off the topsy-turvy, three-hour-plus semifinal at 5-2 in the third set but then collapsed, dropping 20 of 24 points down the stretch.

In Saturday's title match, Muchova will meet either No. 1 Iga Swiatek, the defending champion, or No. 14 Beatriz Haddad Maia. Their semifinal was scheduled for later Thursday.

At No. 43, Muchova is the fourth-lowest-ranked women's finalist in French Open history.

And the way she managed to get there was rather remarkable.

In the 80-degree warmth of Court Philippe Chatrier, Muchova's variety and all-court style provided the right mix against one of the game's biggest hitters.

An oversimplification, granted, but think of it this way: Sabalenka tries to hit the ball past her opponent; Muchova tries to hit the ball away from her opponent.

The third set appeared to tilt toward Sabalenka — who came into the day 12-0 in 2023 Slam matches — when her pressure prompted some extra errors. A long forehand by Muchova resulted in a service break and a 4-2 lead for Sabalenka, who held for 5-2.

That's when it all began to come apart for her.

Sabalenka needed just one more point when it was 5-2, but Muchova came up with a forehand winner to erase that chance and eventually held there. Sabalenka then served for the victory, but couldn't close things out, and Muchova broke to 5-4. At the ensuing changeover, Muchova sat down and