WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 19, 2021

Petra Kvitova

Press Conference

P. KVITOVA/O. Jabeur

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: A strong match today. Just talk us through the match, the conditions, and also what made the difference in the end.

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, always when I play Ons I do expect a very tough match. I know she's in great form, and I know that I have to play really fast, that she doesn't have a time on her magic shots.

That's what I tried today. I think the courts were a little bit quicker here, as well. So it helps me, for sure.

Actually, I think I was attacking pretty well, even her serve, and put her under the pressure. A few games when I was facing a breakpoint, but somehow I made it, which was very important to still stay on my serve. I really, I think I played very fast and she didn't have time to do her magic.

Q. It just seemed like it was one of the better matches from the start and to the finish that you have played in a little bit. Is that a little bit how you felt out there?

PETRA KVITOVA: I did, definitely. I felt like and a good way to play, for sure. I mean, the first game I was already facing a breakpoint. So I was, like, No, please, I can't (smiling).

I'm a little bit fighting with a health issue, as well. So I was very happy that I have my serve still on.

Yeah, I just played a little bit freely, I would say. I was just going for the shots, played pretty aggressive, having a good (indiscernible) that she didn't have time and she missed from it, as well. So that's how I felt it today.

Q. Next you'll play someone you know very well, Angie Kerber. You haven't played anybody on tour more than Angie. Can you just talk about the challenge of playing her? Last time was on a grass court on her home soil, and now it will be here. How do you see it? Is it any different, do you think?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, it will be different, of course grass and hard courts. Still it's a bit fast here for the hard courts, which I think it's good.

Yeah, it was her home soil, right? So I think that she really been playing unbelievably well over there, and that's how she went on fire. Definitely she's still keeping the form very well.

It will be (indiscernible) again, lefties, but I'm really looking forward. I mean, it's what we dream, right, to play the best players. It's nice that we are still there and, you know, in this age and trying, and be in the quarters. Actually, it's nice.

Q. Is it ever an instance where, when you play somebody that you have played a lot, whether it's Angie, I think Ash is another player that obviously you have played a lot, as well, where it almost doesn't matter the surface, the circumstance, what round it is, you are just so familiar with each other's games that you just kind of go out and play tennis? Is that a little bit of what it feels like to play those types of players?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, it is. I mean, you don't really count the surfaces. Of course if somebody is playing a little bit better on something, but on the other hand, you really know the game. You are practicing with the girls as well a lot.

Yeah, we are very familiar with the games over those years. You know, sometimes it's nice to play somebody who you don't know, but on the other side sometimes, of course when you are playing 20th match already, it's boring a bit, but it's still match which you want to win.

And it depends how you are prepared, how you read her game. You know, I think that definitely I know what she's playing and she knows what I am playing. You know, there is nothing which she can surprise me or I can surprise her. Yeah, it will be same as always (smiling).