AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 25, 2023

Karolina Pliskova

Press Conference

M. LINETTE/K. Pliskova

6-3, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Bad luck today. Obviously not the result you were looking for. Just talk us through the match from your perspective to begin with.

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: Yeah, I mean, of course super disappointed about overall just result. I mean, the game, I thought I was playing quite well like full two weeks. Even today was not, like, that bad, but I just think she really made it difficult for me.

She really played well from the baseline. I just didn't find any like space in the court to go for my winners. Obviously the serve was not great today at all.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Why do you think that was with the serve?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: I don't know. I suppose you can have days like this. I have been serving really well for like all my matches, and pretty much like for the last two, three weeks. I suppose you can have a day like that.

Maybe also the opponent makes you feel like that, because even if I hit like some really good serves, then she still like puts many balls back. That's the pressure where you want to go for more and then you miss.

Yeah, I think she really made it like difficult for me, not missing many balls, not giving anything for free, any mistakes. Yeah, I just didn't play a great match. I don't think that bad, but definitely I can play better.

Q. You talked about Magda playing well and not giving you the space for the winners. What was she doing that was just, yeah, frustrating you from her side?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: Yeah, I think she really like covers well the court, so the moment like I feel like I have to go for more and more, and obviously I was missing a bit like too much, and I just didn't feel -- like some players you kind of feel that the court is a bit bigger and you have like many places where to play.

But with her I didn't really feel that way. She covers well the crosses, and the moment I go line she plays really good short-angle cross. I just found it difficult tactically to play what I normally played the last couple matches.

Of course she's on a great run. She has nothing to lose. Especially important moments or breakpoints there were couple like tough games also on her serve I thought she just played well. She didn't really miss much. Obviously like lot of credit to her.

Yeah, I mean, I can definitely play better. I don't think this was my best match at all, but, you know, it's also sometimes what the opponents let you to play.

Q. You have played Magda many times over the years. How would you say she's different today as an opponent than maybe in the past?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: No, I mean, I don't think she's much different than she was. Of course she improves, but I think the main thing with some of these players, which takes a while for them to get up, I don't think you can improve that much of the level of tennis what you play. Like you don't improve that much your forehand. I think it's just a belief and the confidence, which obviously she has now.

Q. Obviously a disappointing result today, but starting the season this way, making a major quarterfinal, playing the level of tennis that looks like you're generally happy with in January, does that make it a little bit easier, today's result, and carrying forward?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: Yeah, I mean, of course always like before the tournament or before, like, in Adelaide when I lost two times first round, of course I would be thinking, oh, if I can win two, three matches it would be great just to have some matches, and of course to have some points, because my ranking is not great, I don't want to be playing quallies anymore.

So of course this is positive. Super disappointed about today, because I just thought this was a match which I should win and I could win.

But, yeah, on the other hand, I think I played some good tennis here. All the matches were quite good. Even like the one today was nothing like really crazy. So I think one day it can go again like a bit more my way, and I can play maybe a bit better and then to be the winner from this match.

Yeah, for sure, some positive things. Just happy to be back in this stage of tournaments, you know, and, yeah, gotta keep trying.