Nikola Bartunkova beats Karolina Muchova to reach China Open semifinals

Nikola Bartunkova of the Czech Republic celebrates after winning against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic during the quarterfinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

BEIJING — Nikola Bartunkova reached her first WTA 1000 semifinal after beating fellow Czech Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0 at the China Open on Thursday.

Bartunkova stamped her authority on the quarterfinal by racing to a 5-0 lead against her seventh-seeded opponent. It was the 20-year-old Bartunkova’s third career win against a top 10-ranked opponent.

She next faces French Open champion Mirra Andreeva or Ekaterina Alexandrova, who played their quarterfinal later Thursday.

The Associated Press