TOP SEED Karolina Muchova is through to the quarter finals of the 2025 Upper Austria Ladies Linz tournament after a commanding 6-2 6-3 triumph over Spanish qualifier Sara Sorribes Tormo. The overwhelming favourite for the event since second seed Elina Svitolina was knocked out, Muchova made light work of the counter-punching Sorribes Tormo to win in an hour and 27 minutes.

Muchova completely hit Sorribes Tormo off the court, smashing 37 winners to seven, while naturally committing 19 more unforced errors (29-10). Five of Muchova’s winners came from aces, as she went on to secure a 73 per cent success rate off her first serve (24/33) and 61 per cent off her second serve (11/18).

The Czech world number 20 was broken just once – saving three other break points – while converting four of eight from return. Muchova’s only losing service game came when she was 4-2 up in teh second, and though it put the match back on serve, the Czech immediately broke back and then held serve a game later for the match.

Impressively, Muchova was able to win 20 of 28 rallies that went seven or more shots (71.1 per cent), and also convert 58 per cent of her points in rallies under three shots. Once again it was the top seed’s forehand that did a lot of the damage – hitting 16 winners – while also coming to the net to secure 12 points with her volleying.

Muchova said she had a slight blip midway through the second set, but was able to refocus herself to get the win.

“I think you saw some silly shots,” Muchova said post-match.  “Sometimes it’s too many options. I’m trying to work on it to pick the right shots. It’s fun, but sometimes … Hopefully no one saw what I just did!”

Muchova will face sixth seed Russian Anastasia Potapova in the quarter finals who is coming off an extra day’s rest following her 7-6 6-4 victory over Rebecca Sramkova. Meanwhile another Russian in Anna Blinkova stunned second seed Svitolina 6-4 6-4 to book her place in the final eight.

She next takes on eighth seeded Dane Clara Tauson who stormed past Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-4, while Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska won against Antonia Ruzic, defeating the Croatian qualifier 7-5 6-1 to set up a tantalising match with third seed Maria Sakkari.

In other results, Croatian qualifier Petra Martic kept her run going with a 6-4 4-6 7-5 triumph over Armenian Elina Avanesyan, and now heads up against fourth seeded Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova. The Russian brushed aside Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3 6-2.

UPPER AUSTRIA LADIES LINZ WTA 500 – ROUND OF 16:

[1] Karolina Muchova (CZE) defeated [Q] Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) 6-2 6-3
Anna Blinkova (RUS) defeated [2] Elina Svitolina (UKR) 6-4 6-4
[4] Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) defeated [Q] Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-3 6-2
[5] Dayana Yastremska (UKR) defeated [Q] Antonia Ruzic (CRO) 7-5 6-1
[Q] Petra Martic (CRO) defeated [7] Elina Avanesyan (ARM) 6-4 4-6 7-5