On Thursday the 26-year-old Muchova reached her first-ever Grand Slam final by beating the world number two Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 7-6, 6-7 and 7-5 in an epic battle on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

In the second semi-final, the defending champion, Swiatek was tested in her 6-2 and 7-6 win over Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil. The wins ensure that the Polish star Swiatek reached the final for a third straight year.

Muchova said she just had to be patient in the third set against Sabalenka and she drew on the energy of the crowd.

“I was ready to leave it all out there. I did. At that moment, 2-5, I didn't really know if I'll make it or not. I was just thinking to try and then that she broke my serve and I can break her serve as well.

“I was trying to, yeah, trying to play every point and put her under pressure, try to get back into the game and mix it up with slices and don't give her easy balls, because she was serving really well.

“I think that and emotionally here and there I had to let it out and scream a little bit. I was trying to keep myself calm during the whole match and to be in control of that. But then, yeah, it was crazy out there. I could hear the people and really it was helping me a lot the people around and the energy.”

Meanwhile, on Friday afternoon in the men's semi-finals, Carlos Alcaraz will face Novak Djokovic, while in the evening Casper Ruud will be up against Alexander Zverev.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport