ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2023

Linda Noskova

Press Conference

L. NOSKOVA/D. Kovinic

6-3, 2-1 [Ret.]

THE MODERATOR: Linda, congratulations. It's a victory. Probably not the way you wanted to win because she had to stop in the second set, but can you talk us through the match and how happy you are with that win?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Yeah, recently my first Grand Slam major win, so it's always special, especially here at my favorite Grand Slam possibly.

So I'm just happy to handle especially the first set so well. I played what I needed to play and my first really helped me out a lot of times, so that was the positives.

THE MODERATOR: Any questions in English?

Q. Last year you went very close against Raducanu in the first round. 12 months on you've jumped quite a lot. You're now direct entry, had that amazing run in Adelaide. How different a player are you on 12 months ago, a player and a person?

LINDA NOSKOVA: I think I developed my game. I am still trying to play aggressive. That's not going to change any time soon.

I think I worked a lot on my serve. Obviously it's not always the best side of my tennis. It's a lot of ups and downs, but I think I'm just developing my move on court as well. So those are the sides that are my weaknesses probably.

Q. Along the same lines as his question, regarding your performance in Adelaide, also Lyon, which you reached the quarterfinals, does that change your perception of your state of readiness to be able to compete at this level on tour?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Yeah, I think since I'm playing with all these great players, I'm kind of getting used to the fact that I can play with them and win because in the past I was always, like, oh, my God, I'm playing a big player. I'm just happy that I'm stepping on the court. Now it's really, like, yeah, I can beat them.

So it's a great feeling to just go and get prepared for such matches like these.

Q. What was the injury in Portugal? Was it anything major?

LINDA NOSKOVA: No, I just got a flu/cough, and I didn't feel well on court, so I didn't really want to play in Madrid, which is a big tournament and big responsibility.

Q. Do you feel match-ready with the number of matches you've had then on clay?

LINDA NOSKOVA: I wouldn't say that it was the best preparation of all, but coming to a Grand Slam, and Roland Garros is always special for me every year, so even when I don't play good before coming here, I still feel confident and just happy and excited for the match.

Q. You could face either Rybakina, who is on court now, or your young countrywoman, Brenda, in the next round. Your thoughts on both of those.

LINDA NOSKOVA: Well, Brenda, I know her obviously a little more than Elena Rybakina. I will watch the match probably because I have nothing to do now.

Yeah, I'll just see who wins and what was the game like.

Q. You mentioned at the beginning of the press conference that Roland Garros was possibly your favorite slam. Is that because you had success in juniors, or is that because you prefer playing on clay?

LINDA NOSKOVA: I think the juniors played a big part of it, actually. I do like US Open as well because it's a big arena, big everything, but it is a little more like closer to me because I've played it many times. Juniors, I've played it three times. Here it's my second time as an adult.

So I'm just really glad I can be here -- that I could have been here all these years.

Q. Is clay not your preferred surface then?

LINDA NOSKOVA: I don't know. I mean, I think I have good results on it. Better than on hard, but hard kind of feels better for my way of game. But results say everything so we'll see.

Q. Finally, a question about Billie Jean King Cup. So many young Czech players, and old as well, so many talented Czech players, what is it like spending some time being close to those? Was that an important formative weekend for you, even though you didn't play, to have the time on practice and to mix and mingle with some of those great players?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Yeah, totally. I was just really glad I got in, got to give my premiere. Unfortunately, I didn't get on court, but it wasn't the biggest part of that week.

So I just had a lot of great practices with Barbora Krejcikova or Vondroušová or Karolína Muchová. So I was just glad to be there. It was just one of those experiences that I didn't want to miss.

Q. I just want to go back to the junior title you had here. How much has changed expectations in Czech around you?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Just the fact that I developed my game and that I'm just kind of improving as a tennis player. Obviously coming from juniors, it was a big step to win some titles, some ITF titles and, you know, women's.

I'm improving as a player, on ranking as well, so I'm just glad I moved from juniors like that. It wasn't easy.

Q. Do you remember a lot of messages from your country when you won the title?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Yeah, I do. I spent a lot of time replying to all the fans, but I played 60K a few days after it, so I didn't have much time to rest.

I do remember that a lot of people came there and actually congratulated me for the title.