WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 19, 2022

Petra Kvitova

Press Conference

P. KVITOVA/A. Tomljanovic

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congratulations on making the semifinals. Can you talk about the match today? What was the key?

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, the match, I have to say that from morning I didn't feel the best, to be honest. I was pretty tired. I don't know when was my last -- probably Eastbourne, like few days, tough matches in a row. But on the grass it's a bit different than on the hard court. Especially playing Ons, it's always tough.

So I didn't feel the best. I started not great, but I somehow handled the first game and she already had breakpoints. I think it was really, really important, actually, for the whole match then to keep it up.

My serve worked very well at some point. I did some double faults, as well, so it wasn't really nice, but, you know, then the black cloud was coming and I was, like, Oh, no, please don't start to rain. It was already few drops. It was, like, Oh, it's impossible, always like this.

Yeah, but I was tired but I was, like, Ajla has to be tired, as well, because she went going from the qually and she had late matches, as I know. So it was really battle talking with myself whole match.

Yeah, so it was a nice match, I think, even the score looking how it's looking. It was a good one, and I think Ajla really had a great tournament.

Q. Was it important for you to, with the rain clouds coming potentially, as well as just how you were feeling this morning of just being a little bit tired from what you have already done, was it important for you to get it done as simply as you possibly can so you have as much energy and turn around for tomorrow?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, for sure. I think I didn't even have to play that many rallies, so I was really trying to play pretty aggressive from the first shots to be done. Especially on my serve, of course, when I had few aces is always helping.

Yeah, I had a break down in the second set, so it wasn't really nice. Luckily it came back straightaway, so it was very helpful. It wasn't really easy. I mean, she kept pretty well in the second set, and she started to play better, not missing that much. Yeah, it was a little bit difficult then.

Q. You and Madison have had a lot of battles. I would be surprised if tomorrow's match is a straight-set match, given the way you two play against each other. What is it about the matchup with Maddie, because you're both probably the two biggest hitters in the game, that creates these three-set epics and very memorable matches?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, we had a few of them very memorable. Probably for me the best one of course playing for the bronze, no question about it. I do remember I lost in China, in Beijing I think, 7-6 in the third.

But we played first round last year here, so I think this is much, much more better to play in the semis. I think she's really on fire. I love how Madison is playing. I think that she is one of the, like game playing, like one of the best, I think. She has great serve, variable with the forehand. She can hit it. She can go up.

I think she is really playing very beautiful. It's nice to see her in the semis, for sure. Unfortunately I'm playing her, but we will see tomorrow (smiling).

But I think it will be nice battle, for sure, so I'm looking forward. For me, be in the semis is already great.

Q. As an offensive player, an aggressive player, we think of you, we think of Maddie, Ostapenko, Sabalenka. Because you understand this game style so well, you and Madison understand each other, what is it about Madison's brand of offensive tennis that stands out to you, if that makes sense? What makes her unique as a hitter?

PETRA KVITOVA: I mean, she is a big hitter, but even from the forehand she can go a little bit different style sometimes, that she can put it a little bit upper with more topspin.

She is moving very well, and especially the serve. I think she, as I mentioned, she has a lot of variety of the serve. She can go for ace, she can have a kick, she has beautiful technique of the serve. Definitely she has more kind of this stuff. Not like me, I don't have nothing, I'm just boom-boom (smiling). So we will see (smiling).

Q. Then obviously a WTA 1000 semifinal during a swing that isn't always the best for you. What does it mean for you to have this, I know it's just one week, but to know that the tennis that you've played the last three or four matches has been good enough for this?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah. That's important to know, for sure, that I can still be able to play with the best, even beating them. I don't remember when I beat last top 10. So that was really something very special for me with Ons yesterday and being in the semis.

You know, for me sometimes feels the 1000s more difficult than the Grand Slams, because always we see in the quarters in the Grand Slams some kind of surprises but not here. From the first rounds it's amazing matches.

That's how I feel it. I think it's great to know, for me especially to know that I'm still kind of belong to them, so it's nice to know, for sure.

As you mentioned, this swing, it's a bit tougher for the Europeans, of course. I can't imagine how Americans or Australians doing it when we have a European swing with the clay and grass. Oh, my God.

It's really long trip, but, yeah, of course if you are playing matches, it's going a little bit faster than only practices, which I do remember, as well.

So I'm glad, for sure, to have couple of matches, yeah.