THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 8, 2021

Karolina Pliskova

Press Conference

KA. PLISKOVA/A. Sabalenka

5-7, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Talk through your emotions after you won match point, what it means for you to be back into another Grand Slam final after almost five years?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: I think still half like I can't believe it because somehow, like, coming into this tournament, the dream was to make the second week, of course, because I was not in the second week for a while. Never I thought about, like, maybe going into the final.

Sascha was super confident in me. He said, I told you you were going to make the final. Like after the match he said.

So many amazing players in the draw. Also, like her, I never beat her. Actually I knew it's gonna be like super close because we both serving big, so I knew there's going to be, like, many small chances. Especially after losing the first set, I thought it was going to be super tough to win this match.

Then to win two sets in a row with the way how she was serving today, I think she was serving incredible, all my chances she just put, like, amazing serves in.

Yeah, like super proud about the way how I handled the situation out there, the second and third set, and that I served out the match.

Q. What do you think has changed your form in this fortnight? You had some difficult times earlier on in the year. What's changed for you in terms of your form and maybe confidence?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: I mean, of course you need to win couple matches to feel this way and to play the best tennis. It's tough to really play in the first round, especially after you lose couple times in the first rounds, not really playing that amazing, let's say.

I think I was playing also earlier this year super tough players, they always went deep in the tournament. I think I was close to playing a good level, but somehow I was not able to really, like, win all those matches.

It's not that I would be playing horrible. Sometimes you're just missing a little bit and you're not doing anything wrong. I think sometimes just to hang in there is super important, which I did. I didn't really change anything. It's not about we would do so much different things than I did maybe before Paris.

I think you need luck. Yeah, super happy about that it work out because we are, like, trying for a while just to play good. In the practices I was playing well and then not really in the tournament. So super happy about that.

Q. Could you give us your initial thoughts on the task ahead now. You're in the final, you want to win it, but you have to play the world No. 1. What are her strengths and weaknesses?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: So far my second final, second time I'm playing against a player No. 1 (smiling).

But, no, I think it can't be any better than that. You want to play the best player in the final. Of course, I don't want anybody else but her there.

I mean, we had some good matches. Of course, I lost couple times. But I think she has extremely difficult game to play. It's going to be difficult on grass because of her slice and just her game overall.

It's a final. Anything can happen. Also for her, I mean, I know she has a Grand Slam, but also for her is the first Wimbledon final. I think we both have good chances. It's going to be hopefully good match to watch as well because with her it's always interesting. We going to see what's going to happen.

Q. On today's match, can you talk tactically about how you approached the match against Aryna. You said she served unbelievable today, and she did. How did you feel like you were going to absorb and combat her power? Also mentally after double-faulting the first set away, how did you -- a lot of players would have lost that second set 6-Love.

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: I wanted also, for a minute (smiling).

No, I was, like, super pissed about that because I thought I had so many chances in the first set. It's not like I would do, like, something really wrong. I thought especially the last game I could do much better. Not only the double-fault. I had two easy shots early in the game.

I think I was too much, like, getting frustrated about that I didn't make the chances which I had on her serve because I had, like, maybe, I don't know, seven breakpoints or maybe even more.

I was actually holding my serve quite easy. I was like, Okay. And then just a couple mistakes. Sometimes it's like that. I thought I could definitely win that set, because any time I was in the rally, I was feeling quite confident that the point is going to be mine, so it was only about the serve.

I mean, it's tough to really, like, prepare something because there's not much time to think what to do, how to play, where to play, what to cover. I think also she's a really good player. She can play, can serve any kind of corner.

There was not much, like, preparation. It was more about, like, just to be quick, ready, low of course, and to put as many balls back as I can. Of course, to hold the serve. To be patient, which is tough, especially for me (smiling).

But, yeah, worked out in the end.

Q. You were talking about playing Ash. The past seven matches that the two of you all have played, are they going to have any bearing when you go into the final? It's been a long time since the two of you all played one another on grass. I'm figuring that's not going to be of relevance. What about the other more recent matches? Will they have a bearing?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: I mean, for sure. At least I have a feeling about the game overall with her, which is important. I mean, I don't really look if I lost or if I won because I know I beat her, I know I lost couple times, but every time it was kind of close match, a good match actually. I never played a horrible match against her.

Of course she makes you feel a bit ugly with the game which she's playing. Also I had, like, a lot of chances last match we played. I think I had match point or was serving for the match. I know there's going to be many chances for me, as well.

She's a really good player. She has a Grand Slam. Of course she wants to win another one. I'm not expecting anything easy. Definitely there's going to be chances.

Q. How do you feel as far as confidence level is concerned? What do you have for a game plan for the finals?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: No, I mean, of course I felt like I was playing good tennis from the beginning of the tournament. Of course it was maybe different players than I played today. She's No. 2 seeded, so it was very difficult. You expect to play the best level later in the tournament, which I actually did.

First set I lost, but I think I was super close to also win the first set. I'm not really, like, taking that seriously, the results. It's more about my feeling, how I play, how is my game, which I thought was really good so far all two weeks, so hopefully I can hold that level for one more week.