MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

March 31, 2023

Petra Kvitova

Press Conference

P. KVITOVA/S. Cirstea

7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Petra, you're into your first Miami final. Just talk us through how happy you are about it.

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, I'm very happy for sure. I waited quite long to be in the final here. I'm happy I made it finally.

Yeah, it was very difficult, so I'm very happy to get through and to have a chance to play the final tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congrats. The match seemed to turn a little bit, I think she was up 5-2, Love-30 on your serve, 5-4, 40-15. Take me through there. Where was the switch? Was it her getting nervous or you just picking it up?

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, I think was probably a little bit both sides. I know that she had a 40-15 for serving out the set. I just put two kind of good returns to the court. She missed a little bit, as well.

So I think kind of both, to be honest. I think everything paid off afterwards, and then I kept the momentum from my side and I served better. So that was for sure the key, because she was serving, I mean, whole match very good. It was difficult.

Q. You have never made it past the quarterfinals here, so what is different this time?

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, I think I already played quite well in Indian Wells. Losing in quarterfinals hurt, tough match against Maria. It was really tough, hurting quite long.

The time I came here actually I was a little bit better, and I felt good on the court. Of course it's different a little bit, but the balls were flying as well, which I think I like more. The court is a little bit faster, as well. I think all the conditions were like just there. I think definitely my serve, it's important for me whole tournament.

Q. Elena next. You have played her I think twice in the last sort of six months. Won one; lost one. She's been playing pretty well, going through these two tournaments. How do you see that game tomorrow?

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, you're right. It's 1-1 so we see tomorrow who gonna take it. As you said, she's playing very good, winning Indian Wells, returning here in the final. For sure it's a great achievement.

She's a big hitter, big server as well. I'm the same. It's depends really how we are gonna handle the pressure from the opponent.

Q. Nonmatch question. As the only female member here of the All England Club, what are your thoughts on the decision that came out today about the Club are going to be allowing Russian and Belarusian players to play this year?

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, first of all, for sure, I always state like against the war. For sure I'm just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players.

I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year not giving the points, that Belarusian and Russian didn't play. And I think they shouldn't be allowed, actually, in my opinion, either to Olympics. I'm just still a bit on the Ukrainian side of this.

Q. On facing Elena, how much do you watch her or have you seen her play versus just playing her in terms of what you will take into Saturday's match?

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, I watched few games yesterday when she played Jessica. But in the TV it's different than when you are facing her. I know that she likes to play deeper in the court, going for the big serves. I think the best experience is still playing her, for sure (smiling).

Q. Just to clarify, do you think they shouldn't be allowed to play just at Wimbledon or at all on the tour?

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, not in the Olympics, for sure, because I feel the Olympics Games are because we don't want a war in the world. So that's my concern. I'm really appreciating that Wimbledon didn't take them last year.

Q. Just on that point, I mean, the players were consulted in some way on this, yeah? Did you have your say and say what your thoughts about this issue?

PETRA KVITOVA: No, we are not talking about this in the locker room (smiling).

Q. But I mean with the All England Club.

PETRA KVITOVA: No.

Q. You said that you hated the humidity and the heat in South Florida. Did that help you today? Did not getting a day off because of the rain delay, will that help you or hurt you?

PETRA KVITOVA: Who knows, right? Well, yeah, I would love to have a day off, for sure, before the final. But on the other hand, that's how it is, and I'm happy to be in the final anyway.

I don't think it was very humid today. Luckily no rain. The center court was in the shadow, as well, which I think is very nice for players and for the crowd as well. So I think it was pretty nice today.

Q. You made your first WTA 1000 final 12 years ago, and now you're back in one. What do you think that it says about you, and how much pride do you take about the consistency in terms of being able to reach these big finals, get these big results over the course of your long career?

PETRA KVITOVA: It's pretty long ago. Where was it?

Oh, not surprising, right?

Well, I never been quite consistent player, I have to say, I think. I had more like up-and-downs all the time. Maybe with the age I'm more experienced.

Well, definitely I'm proud of myself how I handled those matches here, especially when I was down in the set and coming back. That's really important. Especially the match against Jessica in Indian Wells, as well, it was a tough one, all over the place and was really difficult.

But as everybody knows, I love to play finals, right? I mean, we will see, but I'm happy that I'm staying there in the matches, keeping my serve going.

Q. I forgot to tell you that there are many Czech fans who told me to tell you how much they are rooting for you tomorrow and they were rooting for you today of course. I overheard some Czech encouragement during the game. Is it something you take notice of or does it mean anything?

PETRA KVITOVA: Actually, I did. I think that not many Czechs are in the crowds overall, but I saw the flag. I heard Czech language over the play, and it's very nice and they were really screaming today, especially after the match, which is always nice.

Yeah, I'm happy to see them, and I'm looking for tomorrow to see them again.

Q. You just spoke about your experience and how many years you have been on the tour. When you're in the middle of a match, is it as enthralling and as exciting and as free for you now as it was 10, 12 years ago?

PETRA KVITOVA: Hmm. I think it's more exhausting (smiling), I think. But maybe, on the other hand, it's more happiness after it when I win.

But during the match, it's not easy, right? I think when I was younger, I didn't think that much as I'm doing now when, you know, trying to keep myself motivated and play well and have a good serve and point by point.

When I think I was younger I have kind of nothing to lose and I was just smashing from all the sides, and sometimes it was going in. So I think this is mentally a little bit more exhausting.