Top Tennis Player with Successful Dutch Coach Strikes Swiftly at US Open

Muchova, seeded seventh in the US Open singles, is considered an outsider for the final Grand Slam of the 2026 tennis season, especially after her Wimbledon final loss to compatriot Linda Noskova. Against world No. 90 Kraus, Muchova had a particularly easy time in the second set, dropping only five points in total and securing the win on her first match point: 6-3, 6-0. Earlier this month, she had already won the mixed doubles at the US Open with fellow countryman Jakub Mensik.

Thanks to a lightning-fast second set, which concluded in just over twenty minutes, Muchova can calmly prepare for her second-round match against Great Britain's Katie Boulter. Boulter had a tougher path, needing three sets to overcome American wildcard Carol Lee. While Boulter spent over 2.5 hours on court, Muchova dispatched Kraus in under an hour.

The Czech top tennis player has been working with Groeneveld as her coach since January 2026. The Dutchman guided Muchova to her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon and also to three other WTA finals this year, two of which she won. "Sven exudes a lot of calm and is tactically very strong. He's not someone who nervously paces back and forth. That calmness, I found it wonderful," Esther Vergeer told NOS earlier this year about Groeneveld (60).

Under his guidance, the wheelchair tennis player won no fewer than nine Grand Slam singles titles. "Sven's strength is that he engages in conversation with you without being a know-it-all. He's someone who respects you and maintains composure, but also dares to hold a mirror up to you." Muchova had previously affirmed this, stating, "His calmness and pleasant personality are huge assets in this sometimes crazy tennis world."

In the past, Groeneveld has assisted some of the biggest names in the tennis world, from Maria Sharapova to Roger Federer, not only as a coach but also as a trusted confidant.

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