Alexandrova outclasses top seed Muchova to return to Linz Open final

Ekaterina Alexandrova, the No 4 seed, upset top-seeded Karolina Muchova 6-0, 6-4 to advance to the final of the Upper Austria Ladies at the TipsArena in Linz.

It is the second consecutive year that the Russian world No 30 has reached the showpiece in Linz, having fallen in the final to Jelena Ostapenko last season.

It will be Alexandrova’s first appearance in a WTA final since last year’s run to the showpiece. The Russian has won four titles in total, and today reached her ninth WTA final.

The conditions on the quick, indoor hard courts clearly suit Alexandrova’s game. She was in superb form throughout today’s contest, with the supremely talented Muchova unable to utilise her usual box of tricks against her opponent.

Alexandrova got off to a lightning-quick start, racing into a 6-0 first-set win courtesy of three breaks without reply.

The second stanza was closer, and Muchova did have her opportunities to drag herself back into contention with two break points.

But Alexandrova remained rock-solid on serve, breaking the Czech for a fourth time in the contest in the seventh game of that second set before confidently serving out a thoroughly impressive victory.

Alexandrova, ranked No 30, will play Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, the No 5 seed, for the 2025 Linz Open title.

Ahead of her victory, the Russian won against Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich (6-3, 6-2) and Croat qualifier Petra Martic (3-6, 6-2, 6-2).

Muchova, ranked No 19, won against Spanish qualifier Sara Sorribes Tormo (6-2, 6-3) and Russian Anastasia Potapova, the No 6 seed (6-3, 3-6, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.

Linz WTA 500, other semi-final result (TipsArena, hard, USD 1.064.510):

• Dayana Yastremska beat Clara Tauson (8): 6-1, 6-4