US Open 2023 women’s semi-final: Coco Gauff defeats Karolina Muchova – live

“Some of those points it was so loud and I don’t know if my ears are going to be OK,” Gauff says. “This is crazy. I grew up watching this tournament so much, so it means a lot to be in the final. A lot to celebrate. But the job is not done, so hopefully you guys can back me on Saturday.”

Gauff is asked what she will be doing for the second match between Madison Keys and Aryna Sabalenka.

“Press, treatment, watch some anime,” she says. “No, literally today I watched four or five episodes of My Hero Academia before I played. I may watch some of the match, maybe not. I haven’t even thought that far ahead to be honest.”

Gauff wins 6-4, 7-5 to reach US Open final!

Second set: Gauff 6-4, 6-5 Muchova* (*denotes next server)

Muchova wins the first point on Gauff’s serve, ripping a forehand at the end of a lengthy baseline rally that Gauff can’t handle. The Czech has won nine of the last 11 points. But Gauff is able to rattle off four quick points to hold from there. Muchova will serve to force a second-set tiebreaker after the changeover.

Second set: *Gauff 6-4, 5-5 Muchova (*denotes next server)

Muchova holds in stress-free fashion, though Gauff’s lone point at 30-love is one for the highlight reel with both players covering every inch of the court. Muchova has won six of the last seven points. It’s getting tight!

Muchova breaks in ninth game of second set!

Second set: Gauff 6-4, 5-4* Muchova (*denotes next server)

Gauff wins two quick points for 30-love. She’s two points from the finish line. But she follows with her second double fault of the night, then watches Muchova hit a forehand passing shot winner for 30-all. Nervy moment. But the American answers the call with a nifty drop-shot winner behind a wide serve for match point. And Muchova saves it with a high-pressure backhand volley winner for deuce. Phew! A 12-shot rally breaks out on the next point and it’s Gauff who blinks, sending a forehand sailing past the baseline to go break point down. But Muchova wastes it, netting a slice backhand for another deuce point. The Czech then forces Gauff into a backhand volley error for a second break-point chance … and this time she converts when Gauff sends a forehand flying past the baseline! We’re back on serve in the fifth with Muchova serving to stay in the tournament!

Gauff breaks in ninth game of second set!

Second set: *Gauff 6-4, 5-3 Muchova (*denotes next server)

Muchova falls behind 15-30 on her serve with her 25th and 26th unforced errors. Gauff answers with a pair of her own for game point at 40-30, but Muchova follows with her first double fault of the night for deuce. Big moment here. And Gauff hits a forehand passing volley winner early in the rally for a break point. A huge swell from the crowd. And Gauff converts! Muchova sends a backhand into the net on the fourth shot of a baseline rally to gift Gauff the break of serve. Gauff will serve for the match and a place in the US Open final.

Second set: Gauff 6-4, 4-3 Muchova* (*denotes next server)

Another comfortable hold for Gauff, who closes it with a well-placed 94mph ace out wide that Muchova nearly tumbles over trying to return. She’s won 12 of the 15 points on her racket since play resumed after the 50-minute delay.

Second set: *Gauff 6-4, 3-3 Muchova (*denotes next server)

Muchova holds comfortably, pounding a 113mph ace down the middle along the way. She’s won 9 of 12 first-serve points (75%) in the second set compared to 5 of 15 (33%) in the first.

Second set: Gauff 6-4, 3-2 Muchova* (*denotes next server)

Some moments of pressure for Gauff, who makes another unforced error off the forehand to go down love-15, then double-faults for the first time all night for 30-all. But she closes out the hold from there with a clean forehand winner followed by another forehand that Muchova can’t handle. Still on serve in the second set.

Second set: *Gauff 6-4, 2-2 Muchova (*denotes next server)

Muchova cracks a pair of winners, but follows with a couple of unforced errors for 30-40, giving Gauff a look at a break point. Muchova saves it with a nifty lob winner before holding easily from there.

Second set: Gauff 6-4, 2-1 Muchova* (*denotes next server)

Gauff breezes through her first service game since the break, capping a love hold with a backhand volley winner.

Second set: *Gauff 6-4, 1-1 Muchova (*denotes next server)

Muchova steps to the baseline to resume play. It’s been 50 minutes since the last ball was struck. She rattles off three quick points for 40-love. Gauff wins the next two, including a deft backhand passing shot when Muchova tries to surprise her with her first serve-and-volley of the night. But the Czech holds from there after Gauff mishits a forehand from the baseline.

The players are back on court. Gauff and Muchova will go through a full warm-up and the second set will resume with the Czech serving at 0-1.

The protester has been removed from his seat. The gaggle of NYPD officers are walking him up the aisle and into the concourse. That means we should be under way shortly. We’re told Gauff and Muchova will get a five-minute warm-up after they take the court for the resumption of the second set. The time since the last point is up to 42 minutes.

No fewer than eight NYPD officers are surrounding the lone remaining protester in the upper deck. He has been handcuffed and but his bare feet have been glued to the floor. It’s been 35 minutes since the last point was played.

Gauff is still with her team in the exercise room. Muchova is in another room, lying on a mat and doing exercises with a physio. More questions than answers at this point. It’s been a half hour since the last point was played.

Here’s another view of the protesters. Two of them were removed while one still remains, causing the ongoing suspension of play. “They said they’re on the phone negotiating,” Gauff could be overheard saying before retreating into the tunnel. “Like this is a hostage situation.”

Both players have left the court during the ongoing delay. A very unfortunate turn for Gauff, who had momentum to burn after winning the first set and holding to open the second. A user on X, formerly known as Twitter, has shared footage of the three protesters in the upper deck.

Play stopped during second set due to protesters

The match has been paused due to a disruption in the upper mezzanine. Protesters, apparently. The tournament referee and other officials are on the court speaking with the chair umpire as security officials have been dispatched upstairs. Both players are at their chairs in the meantime and Muchova has summoned a physio.

Second set: Gauff 6-4, 1-0 Muchova* (*denotes next server)

Gauff holds comfortably to open the second set. Gauff made three times as many unforced errors in the opening set (12, all but one off the forehand) as winners (four), but Muchova’s total capitulation at the finish line made the difference.

Gauff wins first set, 6-4!

Muchova breaks in ninth game of first set!

First set: Gauff 5-4 Muchova* (*denotes next server)

Well, well, well. Gauff gets a second opportunity to serve for the set and wins the opening point after Muchova donates her 14th unforced error. But the Czech improbably rattles off four quick points from there for her second break of serve, helped along by a flurry of Guaff misfires. We’re back on the serve in the first and Muchova will serve to stay in the set after the change of ends.

First set: *Gauff 5-3 Muchova (*denotes next server)

Muchova fights her way to another hard-fought hold. She’s made only two winners against 13 unforced errors, but she’s clearly raised her level as the set has unfolded.

Muchova breaks in seventh game of first set!

First set: Gauff 5-2 Muchova* (*denotes next server)

Gauff strikes a clean backhand winner, but quickly goes down 15-40 after a couple of errors. Two break-point chances for Muchova but she needs only one of them: Gauff makes another unforced error off her backhand early in a rally and she’s been broken for the first time in the match.

Gauff breaks in sixth game of first set!

First set: *Gauff 5-1 Muchova (*denotes next server)

An error-strewn service game for the nervous Muchova, who goes down love-30 then 15-40. A second break point for Gauff and she rips a wicked forehand early in the rally that Muchova can’t return. The American is up a double break, having won 22 points to Muchova’s nine, and will serve for the first set.

First set: Gauff 4-1 Muchova* (*denotes next server)

Gauff breezes through another stress-free service game, holding at love to maintain her lead. She’s won eight straight points on her serve (and 12 of 14 on the night overall).

First set: *Gauff 3-1 Muchova (*denotes next server)

Another tight service game for Muchova, who has barely got half of her first serves in. But she holds from love-15 down, capping it with a 104mph ace down the middle to get on the board.

First set: Gauff 3-0 Muchova* (*denotes next server)

Muchova puts a bit of pressure on Gauff’s serve, hitting a forehand winner then forcing Gauff into an error with another crisp forehand. But Gauff wins four straight points capped by a 101mph unreturnable serve to hold from love-30 down and stay ahead in the first set.

Gauff breaks in second game of first set!

First set: *Gauff 2-0 Muchova (*denotes next server)

Muchova is under immediate pressure on her serve at 15-30. Gauff makes her first unforced error for 30-all, but follows it with another lob winner for 30-40 and her first break-point chance. And she converts! Muchova flubs a backhand on the sixth shot of a baseline rally to hand Gauff the early advantage in the opener!

First set: Gauff 1-0 Muchova* (*denotes next server)

A great start for Gauff. She wins the opening point with a clean backhand winner to settle a 15-shot baseline rally, then wins the next two on a pair of Muchova unforced errors off the backhand side, then hits a perfect lob winner over her onrushing opponent to close out the love hold and send this partisan crowd into a roar. It’s loud!

The players have emerged from the tunnel after their pre-match interviews. Gauff was asked what she’s learned about herself over her wildly successful North American hard-court season: “That I’m able to find a way and I’m out there having fun on the court. That’s all that matters.”

Chair umpire Alison Hughes oversees the coin toss. Gauff calls heads. It’s tails and Muchova elects to receive first.

The players are going through their warm-ups and we’ll pick it up with game-by-game coverage from here.

Prelude

Bryan will be here shortly. Here’s Tumaini Carayol’s lookahead to Friday’s twinight doubleheader of US Open men’s semi-finals.