ROLAND GARROS

May 29, 2021

Petra Kvitova

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. When you walk back into the grounds here in Paris, what are the main kind of memories, thoughts, things that pop into your mind?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, for me it feels like yesterday that I been here, that we never left from here. It's just a couple of months, it's not a whole year as we normally have it.

So very me really was like very life memories what I have from last year. Obviously it was a great time last year. I'm really enjoying to be here playing on the clay here. Yeah, the bubble is still here, but it's a little bit better. But anyway, we are happy to be here as well.

From my side, I would say, yeah, I'm really happy that, you know, I can be here. One year I had the scare because of my injury. I'm glad this time looking okay so far.

Q. I have a question about Carla Suarez Navarro. Wondering if you could give me your thoughts on her return to Paris after battling through Hodgkin's lymphoma and your thoughts on her as a player and as a person.

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, it will be only good thoughts, definitely. I like her as a person, as a player. Her game is a lot of variety.

As a person, she always been one of the most sympathetic girls on the tour. Pretty humble, down to earth. It was really bad what happen exactly to her. That's the thing, the illness doesn't pick some others. Just pick her, unfortunately.

But she's a fighter, so I'm really glad how she was able to make it, how she was dealing with it, and that she is back. I mean, this is really unbelievable. I saw her in Madrid and in the situation I didn't really know what to do. I said, Carla, can I hug you? She said, Yeah. I said, Good. I didn't care as well. I didn't want her to be something bad to happen to her.

I'm really happy that she's back, that she is here. Yeah, it's really nice to see her around.

Q. Can I ask you about Naomi Osaka's comments about press conferences and whether you feel at some times it's a very hostile environment and whether it has affected your mood or mental health in the past?

PETRA KVITOVA: What a surprise that you're asking, right? (Smiling.)

You know, yeah, I read it on my way here actually, and to be honest, I really didn't get it. I mean, there is the part of our lives which we have to deal with you guys, with media, with sponsors, with everybody. It's not only that we play tennis, but this is just part of our lives and careers that we have to talk with you.

Yeah, it's her decision, of course. If it's really bothering her mental side, I totally agree and understand.

I mean, yeah, I faced many tough questions in my career in front of you. Sometimes I cried, as well. It was pretty emotional. Sometimes when you're really sad and you've got some bad question, but it's how it is. I know that we can always say, like, "no comment" or we just don't want to answer.

That's how I feel it. That's her thing, for sure. You know, on the other side I'm glad that I see you guys. So that's important (smiling).

Q. I saw you at the Monaco Grand Prix. Wondering how that experience was, what you got up to. What do you think you'd be like as a Formula 1 racing driver?

PETRA KVITOVA: This was very good question. I just heard my agent over there being happy that you asked, because he's really big fan of it. Actually, he brought me there. It was just good timing that in the end French Open was postponed one week back, so we could go there. It was really something unbelievable, unreal. I mean, when I was kid I was watching with my dad, but just the beginning and then was just circles, you know, boring.

But when you see something live, it's something really interested. And the sound was unbelievable. It was too loud and too fast. No crash. Yeah. Which is good for them, but for me...

Yeah, it was very interesting, actually. Because, you know, as a TAG Heuer, they have Red Bull cars, and even I was sitting front of those two guys with some interviewing. So it was very interesting actually, to be honest, and since then I'm watching the Formula 1 series on Netflix, so I'm really in.

Q. It's the ten-year anniversary of Li Na's title at Roland Garros. I know you faced her along the way during her run to the title. Wonder if you could give your thoughts and views on what it was like facing her during that historic performance and how you viewed it all as you saw her win the title?

PETRA KVITOVA: It's unbelievable it's already ten years. It's really flying.

Well, yeah, I lost to her so I don't have good memories to play her here. I was very happy that she won. I mean, I always love her, as a player, as a person.

We are still in touch. That's very nice. I was very happy for her that she made it. You know, I mean, when you like somebody and she just wins the Grand Slam, that's the best probably if it's not you, right?

I mean, yeah, it was tough one, definitely, but she showed that she can win it. So good for her.

Q. Another question about press conferences. I think probably one of the most amazing press conferences I've ever been in was you at Roland Garros in 2017 when it was the first time I think that you had spoken in public about what had happened to you the previous year. I wonder, what was that like for you mentally preparing for that? In a way, did it do you some good being able to go out there and talk about what happened?

PETRA KVITOVA: So now I gonna tell you the secret, okay? Actually, you know, when my PR manager sent me the statement of Naomi, I just started to talk with my coach about it, and I said, You know what? The toughest ever conference I had was exactly the one which you mentioned.

I didn't know if I'm prepared. Of course I was preparing, you know, some questions about it, which wasn't really easy, even to learn and then to speak loudly about it. Now I'm getting emotional, as well.

And that time, of course, I have been very emotional. We had small shot before the press conference (smiling). That was the secret of it.

Yeah, it was very difficult, to be honest. On the other hand, as you mention, I was kind of proud afterwards that I had done. I thought it would be probably just once to talk about it, but of course many times I did afterwards, but with the time it's much better.

But the first time really was really tough one. And, yeah, even with not really the best English I had at the time was tough as well, but I hope that you apologize that time.

Q. You mention the shots you had. Was that a French brandy or what?

PETRA KVITOVA: It was Czech, it was slivovica, you know. It's pretty cool, what we do big percentage. Yeah, I had small one. Don't worry (smiling).

Q. Can we get your thoughts on the first round. I know you played Greet in the first round in Australia and how you feel your play campaign has gone so far.

PETRA KVITOVA: Good, finally some normal question here (smiling). That's what I get used to, right?

I mean, the guys told me yesterday I'm playing her, I was, like, Again? It was just a couple months ago. But, yeah, I mean, it will be clay, it will be different. It's still flying here. That's good.

Yeah, I mean, I played her actually on clay in Stuttgart a few years ago.

Yeah, I mean, I try. I mean, I try my best. I try to push it as well. She has to run. That's important. Otherwise she can play as well, very well from the forehand.

So that's would be for sure my game plan.

Q. I think it's your 14th or 15th season on the tour. Wondered how difficult it is to keep everything fresh, the training, wonder how you keep it fresh and interesting and motivating.

PETRA KVITOVA: It's interesting number, what you just said. I don't feel it that much, you know. I know I got over 30, but I still feel okay. I mean, I don't feel any tensions or anything like this.

Of course it's tough to still do something new, that it's not that boring and all other things. I'm trying. It's even tougher being in a bubble in this case. I like to go outside for a coffee and, you know, just walk around and do the stuff.

That's how it is right now. You know, on the other hand, it's something new in the end. So I'm trying to deal with it as well. I think that everybody just see how you perform on the court, but it's happening a lot off the court as well how we are getting (indiscernible), what we are doing at the hotel and this stuff. It's like whole day, you know, being kind of busy, as well.

I mean, in the practices I'm still playing forehand/backhand, but of course we are trying some other exercises and having fun. We are playing keep-ups a lot as well. That's what I like. Sometimes the good mood it's really main thing to perform well afterwards.