Karolína Muchová staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Caty McNally 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 in a grueling third-round encounter at the 2026 Wuhan Open on Wednesday. The match, lasting nearly three hours, showcased some of the most tightly contested scores of the week during the Asian swing of the WTA Tour, with only two points separating the competitors across 35 games.
Muchová Launches Stunning Comeback in 2nd Set
After McNally, who earned her place in the main draw through qualifying rounds, claimed the opening set 6-3, Muchová, the tournament’s sixth seed and ranked world No. 7, rallied back with resilience. The Czech player forced a tiebreak in the second set, which she won, leveling the match and setting the stage for a decisive third set. Muchová then repeated the feat by clinching the final set in another tense tiebreak, sealing her victory from behind.
McNally’s journey in Wuhan had already been demanding prior to her clash with Muchová. The 24-year-old American first secured her main-draw spot by overcoming Lanlana Tararudee in three sets during qualifying. She then endured a lengthy second-round match against Yuliia Starodubtseva, which also lasted nearly three hours. Despite this heavy workload, McNally pushed both the second and third sets against Muchová to the brink, underscoring her tenacity.
With this win, Muchová extends her flawless record in tiebreaks this season to 10-0, a milestone that makes her the first player in the 21st century to win her first 10 tiebreaks of a single season at the WTA 1000 level. This performance further cements her status as one of the most clutch players in decisive moments on the tour.