Bartunkova’s breakthrough week continues with semifinal berth

Nikola Bartunkova is having the week of her tennis life in Beijing.

The 20-year-old Czech dominated seventh-seeded Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0 in Thursday’s China Open quarterfinal, advancing to her first WTA 1000 semifinal.

The win over the No. 8 player in the world was the third top-10 victory of Bartunkova’s career and her second in her China Open debut, following her third-round upset of No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

She will face her third Top 10 opponent of the tournament next in Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva. The No. 4 seed held off Ekaterina Alexandrova in two tiebreak sets to advance.

Bartunkova started 2025 ranked No. 493 in the world. She is now No. 34 and climbing fast.

“Before this year, I didn’t honestly expect that I would be here in a semifinal in 1000,” Bartunkova said. “Now, yeah, I’m almost Top 30. It means a lot.”

Her rise has been matched by the tennis she is playing in Beijing.

“It was a great match for me,” Bartunkova said.

Muchova was a familiar opponent. The two practice at the same club in Prague, making Thursday’s quarterfinal an unusual matchup between players who know each other well.

“I like her because she’s also a great human being,” Bartunkova said. “It’s great that we were in the quarterfinal together.”

Then Bartunkova went out and left little doubt about who was playing the better tennis.

She conceded just 10 total points in the second-set shutout, closing the match in dominant fashion.

“I’m just really happy,” Bartunkova said. “I tried to put in my best tennis, and I did it.”

The quarterfinal was the latest step in a remarkable run.

Bartunkova beat Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-2 in the second round, upset Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in the third and edged Sinja Kraus 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 in the Round of 16.

Now she is one win from the biggest final of her career.

And for all the significance of what Bartunkova has accomplished, she is still taking time to enjoy where she is.

"It's great. Everything. Also the fans coming from my practices, it's not usual for me," she said. 

"I am just enjoying the moment. The results are great for me here. So, just really happy now.”

The doubles semifinal is also set in the bottom half of the draw. No. 2 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani held off the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, winning 7-5, 7-6(6) in the quarterfinals. 

Dabrowski and Stefani will take on No. 6 seeds Elise Mertens and Diana Shnaider, who defeated Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs 6-2, 6-1. 

By Dominic Achille