MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 1, 2021

Petra Kvitova

Press Conference

P. KVITOVA/A. Kerber

6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I'm writing an article about lefties, playing lefties. How much of an edge do you feel it gives you? How much of an adjustment is it for you in a match like today where you're playing another lefty?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, since my career started, I think everybody was kind of didn't like to play lefties at all. To be honest, when I'm playing lefty, it's a bit weird as well because we are not like a lot on the tour. That's probably why it's so weird to play lefty.

In the last years, even Lucie Safarova when she played, once we been three in top three with Angie as well. It was kind of packed.

Still, I mean, it's just different to play lefty in the beginning of the match. Then afterwards you just get used to everything. That's how it's changed a bit. You have to make some adjustments for most of the time with the return. Of course, the tactic a little bit because normally we are playing to the backhand, then suddenly there is the forehand there.

It's just a little bit more thinking, I think.

Q. I noticed today on the ad side you went wide with a lot of your serves. On the deuce side you hit a lot of great serves. You found her backhand more than she was able to find yours.

PETRA KVITOVA: I think she was kind of prepared for the forehand even on the both sides. But, yeah, especially from the deuce side, I think she always went already for the forehand. That's why I served to the backhand. Still my best serve is from the ad side to wide. That's what I was still using, doesn't matter she had a forehand.

Q. Were you pleased with the fact that in both sets you were able to break her back right away?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, for sure. I don't think that I really played like bad games when she broke my serve. It was kind of important to stay calm, which I did very well I think today, through whole match. I just took her straight away back.

Definitely it's bring me back my confidence, being more calm with it, for sure. It will be a little bit difficult probably when it's end of the set.

Q. Your next match you play Kiki Bertens or Veronika Kudermetova. Can you talk about that.

PETRA KVITOVA: With Kiki, we play many times here in Madrid, as well. I feel like we are only playing in Madrid against. So it will be funny, for sure.

I know she's back from injury, but definitely she loves to play on clay, especially here in Madrid, which actually I'm the same with it.

With Veronika I never played. I know she can play very well. She just won a tournament in Charleston. Definitely she's in a good form.

Q. What are you most proud of from beating Angie today?

PETRA KVITOVA: Probably that I served very well, especially in the important points. I think like overall the intensity and the tennis itself was on the high level I would say. I think we really played very well. She even served very well, as well. It was tough to attack her serve.

I think I was pretty pleased that I stayed calm during the whole match. I was just there, doesn't matter what the score. That's what I'm pleased with.

Q. You and Angie have played each other I believe 14 times. Can you learn something new from playing an opponent that many times?

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, I mean, during the career, of course we are trying to improve some things. But in the end of the day, I think it's very similar still what we have.

Actually, to be honest, maybe what I learn was that probably I played a little bit more dropshots. That's probably the end of it. I played in a good point, I think. She didn't really have a time to be there. That's probably just one small thing.

Q. A few days ago Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva says you are her favorite player. Yesterday you trained with her. What can you tell me about her and her game?

PETRA KVITOVA: I'm favorite player of Putintseva?

Q. Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva.

PETRA KVITOVA: The lefty, right? Is the lefty one?

Q. Yes.

PETRA KVITOVA: She has a wild card here, okay.

Actually we had a hit yesterday here because I was preparing for Angie. She was able to hit with me as a lefty. It was nice to hit with a lefty girl. She actually told me that I'm her idol. It was very nice to hear that. It was nice ending of the session.

She is very young. She is really hitting very nicely. But, yeah, of course it's very nice to hear that.