Muchova makes Paris Final 7 months after Shrewsbury appearance

Pictured: Karolina Muchova in action at the Budgen Motors W100 tournament at The Shrewsbury Club last November.

Czech Republic star Karolina Muchova, who played in the Budgen Motors W100 tournament here at The Shrewsbury Club last November, is through to tomorrow’s French Open women’s singles final at Roland Garros. 

Muchova’s wonderful run in Paris coincides with the exciting news that we will again be hosting the prestigious ITF World Tennis Tour event in October. It means local tennis fans can look forward to world class tennis making a welcome return to Shropshire.

Muchova, 26, who beat second seed Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in an exciting semi-final yesterday, will face defending champion Iga Swiatek, the top seed, in Saturday afternoon’s Paris final. Currently placed 43rd in the world rankings, Muchova - who lost to Barbora Palicova in straight sets in the second round in Shrewsbury - has enjoyed a brilliant run of results at Roland Garros to reach her first Grand Slam singles final.  

Dave Courteen, The Shrewsbury Club’s managing director, said: "Karolina Muchova’s success at the French Open just shows the quality of the players that we get playing here.

"We have had players competing at The Shrewsbury Club in the past that have gone on to greater things perhaps three or four years later, the likes of Jack Draper.

"But now that we are staging much bigger and higher profile tournaments, we are seeing players already at their prime entering the tournaments that we so enjoy hosting. 

"It’s fantastic that just seven months after playing in Shrewsbury that Karolina, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals in 2021, is now through to the French Open final. 

"It’s a timely reminder of the quality of the tournaments we have at the club. We are now really looking forward to seeing who will be playing in Shrewsbury in October.”  

The Budgen Motors W100 tournament will be the biggest event in women’s tennis, outside of the grass court season, to be held in the UK this year.

Set to feature leading British and international players, the tournament is to take place on our indoor courts between October 15-22, with tickets now on sale. 

Czech Republic ace Marketa Vondrousova, a French Open finalist 2019, won both the singles and doubles titles in Shrewsbury last November. 

A strong line up of international stars headed to Shropshire, including Muchova, while last year's event also featured Jodie Burrage and Katie Boulter, both currently in the top three of the British rankings.

Dave added it’s exciting news that the W100 - which is part of the LTA’s Performance Competitions Calendar - is returning.

He said: “We are delighted to be bringing the ITF World Tennis Tour back to The Shrewsbury Club. 

"We are really proud to be hosting such a prestigious event which provides Shropshire tennis fans with the opportunity to watch world class tennis close to home.   

“It will be an incredible festival of tennis, with lots of fun events lined up to complement the tennis, including an interactive fan zone, live music and many more activities.   

"We've learnt a lot from hosting last year's event and this year we are planning on creating a tournament village in front of the Club for spectators, players, officials and the ball crew. This will mean that we will be limit access to the Hub to just players and members which should signifiacntly improve the experience for members during the week and limit the over-crowding in the kye areas of the Club. We will also put in temporary toilet facilities for spectators who will not be able to access the changing rooms either.

“Tickets are now on sale from the tournament website and there is a code for members to ensure that watching the tennis is subsidised for members but we would encourage members to purchase them as soon as possible as the tournament was very well supported last year." 

He added: “It would not be possible to stage events like this without the fantastic support of local businesses, so we thank them for their wonderful backing.

“We are delighted to once again have Budgen Motors, such excellent supporters of the tournaments we stage for many years, as the headline sponsors."

Ticket prices, which include a 40-page tournament programme, start from £7.50, with finals day tickets to enjoy both the singles and doubles finals on Sunday, October 22 priced £19.50 and reduced to £14.50 for members. 

A tournament pass to watch all matches throughout the week from court-side stands is available for members for £39, (the normal price being £59), with a number of special hospitality events to also be held.

Tickets can be purchased via the tournament website here