AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2023

Petra Kvitova

Press Conference

P. KVITOVA/A. Van Uytvanck

7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Petra, a good win against a really tough opponent today. Just talk us through your thoughts on the match.

PETRA KVITOVA: For sure it was a tough first round, as every first round of a Grand Slam. It's tough and difficult. Especially Alison when I played her in the Olympics and I lost to her, so I knew what to expect for sure.

She's playing a little bit different game, game style, and a lot of variant in her game. So I'm happy that I keep myself in the first set and won a tie-break.

I think from that point I was a little bit more relaxed and started to play a little bit better. Yeah, I'm happy definitely that I made it somehow in good way (laughing).

Q. Just in terms of your preparation here in Melbourne, have you been spending a lot of time at the courts to get used to it? Have you been keeping things very minimal with respect to your pretournament practice?

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, we came in Friday from Adelaide, so there wasn't really much time playing Monday. So I hit twice on Saturday, once on Sunday, and have a match today. So not really, like, time-wise on the court, to be honest.

I played twice with my coach. Just once I played with a girl, but yeah. I mean, I was pretty tired after Adelaide anyway, so it's always tough to find a balance of rest and practice. You know me, so... everything is tough, actually, so... (laughing).

Q. Were you relieved to see the schedule that you would be playing on a day that wasn't the 100 degree day that we're expecting tomorrow?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yes, and actually I would love to play Monday after losing in Adelaide on Thursday, so I was happy to play Monday. Otherwise, it's always long between the preparation.

Especially we played in Sydney. We finished on 1st, and then it was a whole week before Adelaide tournament. So it was a whole week of practicing, and it's boring.

So I was happy to play as soon as possible, especially when it's not that hot. Yeah, I was pretty pleased with it.

Q. You've got Kalinina next. Can you talk about the challenge of facing her?

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, I should play her in US Open, but she withdrew. I practiced with her once. I know a little bit how she's playing, but obviously didn't have the match yet, so that will be challenging for sure.

I think that she's kind of player who has really nothing to lose, and she's playing pretty freely I think, hitting very clean shots.

Yeah, I think it's whatever, right? It will be about probably me how I'm going to handle the pressure and aggressive style and how my serve will work, for sure.

Q. Just a quick last question. It's a little bit different, but when you are in the zone, when you are playing a match where everything is clicking, it's the best of Petra basically, what does it feel like or look like for you? Does the ball seem like it's moving slower? Do you feel like you are reading the game, you know where the ball is going to go before it goes there? What does it feel like when you play these matches and it looks like that?

PETRA KVITOVA: I really like you (laughing). Well, when I'm in the zone, I don't know anything. So it's like, yeah, I'm there hitting it, and I'm just believing everything will be in (laughing).

No, I feel like my mind, it's very clear. I'm choosing good variation normally, what I should play, and everything seems very easy. That's when I'm in the zone.

But I can't tell that the ball is flying slower or no, but I just feel that everything is just perfect.