Palermo Open: Muchova sets up final showdown against Zheng

Second seed Karolina Muchova reached the final of the Palermo Open by beating Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-1, 6-1 in one hour and 14 minutes at the A.S.D. Country Time Club on Saturday.

Muchova, a former top 10 player how is now ranked No 35, will play defending champion and top seed Qinwen Zheng, of China, for the title on Sunday.

This is only the third tournament back for Muchova, who was sidelined from the US Open last year till the start of the grass season. It is also her first final on clay since reaching the Roland-Garros final in 2023.

The 27-year-old Muchova is gunning for her second career singles title (her first one came in Seoul in 2019). She and Zheng have played only once before with the Czech winning their previous meeting which took place in Madrid on clay in 2022.

Ahead of her win, the Czech player won against Pole qualifier Katarzyna Kawa (7-6 (14), 5-1 ret.), German qualifier Noma Noha Akugue (6-7, 6-2, 6-3) and Australian Astra Sharma (7-6 (5), 7-6 (6)).

Begu, ranked No 142, defeated Spaniard Marina Bassols Ribera (6-0, 6-0), Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus, the No 5 seed (6-2, 7-5) and American Ann Li (6-3, 6-4) in the previous rounds of the Palermo tournament.

Palermo WTA 250, other semi-final result (A.S.D. Country Time Club, clay, USD 267,082):

• Qinwen Zheng beat Diane Parry (4): 7-5, 6-4

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