During the first three months of the season, twenty-six year-old Muchová jumped a hundred places ahead and was already knocking on the door of fifty more elites. The Czech won the quarterfinals with two big “thousands” in Dubai and Indian Wells. This year, he has never fallen in the first round.

Certainty and consistency return to the Olomouc native’s game, and for now his biggest weakness hasn’t made a more fundamental statement: his fragile health.

Thanks to his playful style of play, Muchová has been in the limelight at every tournament, and was no different at the prestigious Mutua Open in Madrid, which the Czech joined on Tuesday with a crushing 6-2, 6-2 win over the title. Estonian star Anett Kontaveit.

“Muchová has had a strong season and continues to bounce back,” wrote the official WTA server, considering Muchová’s more solid match record this year: 16 wins and 5 losses.

Against Estonia, he scored eighteen winning balls and just fourteen unforced errors, while feasting the eyes on a signature set of shorts.

“But it’s a twist, it’s delicious. Muchová mixes it up really well,” the commenter praised after one.

After the match, popular presenter Prakash Amritraj invited the tennis player to his show on Tennis Channel and lavishly complimented him one after another.

“You are one of those players that we all love to watch because of your varied play. Most try to stick to the one thing they do best, but you do it all. How did you manage to build such a beautiful game?” asked Mucha who looked happy.

“Thank you, it’s because I really enjoy it. I’ve enjoyed this style since I was a kid. To slice, play short, go to the net, I like to play like this, I don’t know what else to say,” the Czech blushed.

When the presenter asked who was his childhood role model in this direction, Muchová did not hesitate for a second. “Of course Federer,” he said in admiration of the Swiss great. “Ah, he played some tricks in his time,” joked Amritraj, and Muchová chimed in.

The player also faces the question of whether he has set any specific ranking goals for himself in what has been an outstanding season so far.

“Not at all. I just recently dropped out of the top 200 so I just want to play the game and not put too much pressure on myself. But I’m very happy with how I played in March in America and earlier in Dubai. I feel on track that’s right. I believe in myself,” he explained and then revealed his plans.

“Of course I want to be where I’ve been. Even higher. On the other hand, I don’t want to get my hopes up too much,” he added.

The former world number 19 and semifinalist at the 2021 Australian Open has in recent seasons been hampered fundamentally by health problems, particularly in the abdominal muscles. Because of them, he fell to the three hundredth rank. Last season, he played only 23 matches, in which he lost more than half of them.

In the second round, she will face a duel with the world’s 35th player, the ominous Romanian Irina Beguová, in Madrid. Their only previous meeting came four years ago in the second round of Roland Garros, and the Czech lost 1:2 in sets.