ROLAND GARROS

May 22, 2022

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

K. MUCHOVA/C. Monnet

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Karolina, how was it out there today? Tell us about playing at Roland Garros on the first Sunday. How was that for you.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: It was the first time for me, I think, playing Sunday. Yeah, it was good, I'm happy I managed to win in two sets. It was tough match, she was fighting for every ball, every first round is a tricky one, so I'm happy I manage it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. If you could just kind of give us a sense as to how you're feeling physically, obviously going into this tournament and what the process has been like for you as you kind of restarted things in Miami, do you approach things differently, do you see things differently?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I'm still getting to the level of my fitness where I was and on clay it's pretty hard, it's the hardest one. But, yeah, trying to do what I can with my team. I'm still surrounded by the same people, we're working as we started before my injury, so I'm getting there.

Q. In terms of how did you decide that Miami was the place that you would kind of restart things and then what have the weeks been like ever since that as you approached it?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I haven't really decided, we went there like two weeks ago or before the tournament started. I entered the tournament and we were like, let's see how my body is going to feel and how it's going to be. I went to Boca Raton many times before to prepare myself, so I took my team and we, for the first time I actually played some games with the girls and everyone was coming back from Indian Wells to practice there.

So it was good and then I felt great, so there was nothing about like to think to not play and, yeah, I didn't really have big expectations and I was really looking forward to play, I was super happy that I can play tournament again, so that helped, I think, all the excitement for the tournament and the matches.

Actually, I played pretty fine for such a long time that I didn't get many matches and that much practice, but I'm happy for that I could play there.

Q. So weeks on and a few tournaments under your belt have the expectations changed, is it still I'm just happy to be here or do you start to feel that ambition or, yeah, expectation of yourself and of the results coming back?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I think it's always in the back of my mind, even though I didn't play, but I can't be too hard on myself because I think I need more matches to get the experience again and to get in a rhythm and as well for my body to get used to this kind of routines and stuff and my head as well in the matches.

But obviously still going into the match that I want to put everything I have and I'm happy that today I went out as a winner.

Q. If you could, on the back injury itself, was it purely muscular, what was the nature of the injury and what did you need to do to rehabilitate so that you could play again?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I needed to have a lot of rest, it was all connected to the belly, to the abdominal issue and, yeah, I mean, I don't really want to talk about it, I want to leave it in the past, you know, but I'm still rehabilitating and I have to do daily exercises for the back and for the belly to keep myself fit and, yeah, to, how you say it, like, well I lost the word, just like to be ready, to not get that injury back, so I have to exercise every day. To prevent. Thank you. (Laughing).

Q. Did you do anything other than rehab and rest during that time away? It was quite a few months.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, but you wouldn't believe how much time it takes. I think it took way much time than tennis, if I would practice and then had some time. It was like from the morning I started, I don't know, in a swimming pool until I could move better. So it was swimming pool session and then it's physio and many, many processes through the day, so I went back home pretty late, I would say.

But I was mostly with my family and with my team and I think almost all the time in the cold Prague, so I didn't explore much.

Q. Looking ahead you could play Sakkari in the next round and I'm just curious what you think of that challenge, given where you kind of are right now in terms of coming back and what do you expect from her as an opponent?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Well, she's a quality player, very good one, very good physique and, yeah, I think she's top 5 now, so definitely tough match ahead, but she didn't play yet, right, so if it's her, then, yeah, I expect tough fight, tough battle. We played on the clay I think two years ago, maybe one year ago, so yeah, definitely tough match. I'll try to prepare myself and again put everything I have.