Muchova 2-1 McNally: 17 games to 18, and still through

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18-17. That was Catherine McNally's games tally against Karolina Muchova in Wuhan's Round of 32 — higher, and still not enough. McNally also won more service points (69-66), landed 71% of first serves to Muchova's 59% and converted four break points to three. Muchova won the only columns that decide tennis: two tiebreaks, two sets, and a 2-1 escape settled 108-106 on total points.

McNally struck first, breaking three times in the opener while Muchova saved just two of five break points; 6-3, and the set was gone. The second flipped the serve math: 29 service points to 22 for Muchova, a break traded each way, 3-of-4 break points saved on both sides, then a tiebreak — Muchova's. The decider was dead level on serve at 29-29, Muchova facing zero break points, out-acing McNally 3-0 and serving without a single double fault. A second tiebreak, a second 7-6, and the Round of 32 was settled.

The margin lived on the return court. Muchova's 42 receiver points to 37 was the widest gap she opened all match, and it covered for a serve that leaked five double faults and a 59% first-serve rate. McNally's cleaner delivery earned her 50 first-serve points to 43, and even in the clutch she edged the numbers, saving six of nine break points to Muchova's five. Still, when the sets hung on a tiebreak, the edge flipped — twice.

McNally won the numbers, nearly all of them. Muchova won the tiebreaks — and in tennis, that is the only arithmetic that gets printed.