Coco Gauff, Karolina Muchova locked in thrilling Australian Open battle

MELBOURNE: The Australian Open crowd at Margaret Court Arena is witnessing a pulsating fourth-round showdown as Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova trade blows in a high-intensity three-set contest on Sunday.

World No 3 Gauff stormed into the match with authority, overpowering the Czech star in a ruthless opening set. The American barely put a foot wrong, racing to a commanding 6-1 win as her power and pace left Muchova scrambling. Gauff’s early dominance looked set to continue as she surged ahead quickly, stamping her control on the contest.

But Muchova, known for her variety and tactical intelligence, refused to fade. After absorbing the early pressure, the Czech ace flipped the momentum in the second set, producing a sharp turnaround with cleaner returns and clever net play. She stunned Gauff by taking the set 6-3, dragging the contest level and injecting fresh drama into the encounter.

With the match on a knife’s edge, the decider has lived up to expectations. Gauff has once again seized the initiative in the third set, edging ahead 2-1 as the battle intensifies. Both players are now trading long rallies and testing each other’s resolve in what has become one of the standout matches of the tournament.

Coming into the contest, Gauff held a dominant head-to-head record and had never dropped a set to Muchova, but the Czech has pushed the American harder than ever on this stage. The winner will book a coveted spot in the quarterfinals, with momentum swinging sharply from game to game as the clash continues to unfold.