US OPEN

August 30, 2022

Karolina Pliskova

Press Conference

Ka. PLISKOVA/M. Linette

6-2, 4-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: If you could, just take us through the match, especially into that third set.

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: Yeah, I think it was a bit up and down, like all match, but I thought I was playing really good set and a half. Then obviously like maybe she tried to change a little bit her game, and I think I just like took off the speed a little bit. And of course like struggled a little bit with the heat conditions.

But, yeah, proud that I kind of stayed and wait for my chances. It's never easy for players like this to close out the match. Yeah, but it was a bit too much drama (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Magda can play such intense tennis at these sort of occasions. How prepared were you for that? How were you able to stay up emotionally, knowing she was probably going to bring it in the second set?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: No, I know she can play well. Lately she showed she can beat really good players and can play close like with the top-10 players, let's say. I knew it's not going to be very easy. We played many years ago which was completely different situation for both of us.

I was expecting what actually like she was playing, so it was not like I would be surprised. I think definitely I had too many chances in the second set, it could just go like I thought a bit easier, like the first set maybe. I think the second set should be or could be maybe 6-4, but similar way like the first one. But kind of didn't play well. I had too many breakpoints, and also like on her service game 30-Love, just didn't play well there.

Yeah, and then she kind of like improved. Like it's always if you give to a player a chance to like start to play better or I just like didn't play that fast as I was playing in the first set, then of course they take it. She took it, and after she was playing well.

Q. At this point in the season, there has been ups and downs with the injuries. Good training block this summer. Where do you feel you are at at this stage?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: Let's say I'm okay. Of course it's another year. Of course I missed the first part of the year so I would say mentally, and kind of physically I'm usually okay but sometimes some little injuries somehow they are showing up, which I was never use to that, but I suppose it's the age.

Also I had lately in the summer, this summer in America, couple matches in a row which I didn't really have this year. I think that took me some energy, struggling with the shoulder there after playing five matches in a row in Toronto.

But I'm okay.