THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 11, 2023

Marketa Vondrousova

Press Conference

M. VONDROUSOVA/J. Pegula

6-4, 2-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Marketa Vondrousova.

Marketa, how does it feel to be in the Wimbledon semifinals?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, it's amazing feeling. I was down one point in the third set. So, yeah, I mean, my thoughts weren't so good. Yeah, I mean, I'm just very happy. I was fighting through the whole match.

Yeah, it's amazing feeling.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What did you do in the rain break? Talk to your coach...

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: I actually didn't see my coach. I was alone in the waiting room. I chat a bit with my husband. We talked on the phone. That was it. It was a quick break, so I didn't do much.

But, yeah, I just wanted to go out there and just try to stay in the match and try to win.

Q. Would you tell us what he said to you?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: My husband?

Q. Yes.

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: It was a good match, playing great. He just said, Try to fight. You are playing good. You are playing great match.

Yeah, that was it. I mean, I think the break helped actually. It was good.

Q. You were saying it helped you, the break. It also seemed to help your forehand. You were having issues with it. How did you turn it around?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, I feel like her backhand was, like, really, really not so good for me, for the forehand. It stays really low, so you cannot do much from it.

I just tried to hit maybe harder. The slow balls, they don't really work. She was pushing the backhand so much. I just said to myself, Try to maybe hit harder, see what happens.

I think I found myself again.

Q. Everyone is noticing your tattoos that you have. Does Wimbledon have a special place in your heart? If you go further, would you get a Wimbledon tattoo?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: We'll see (smiling). I always loved it here, but I didn't do so good. My best result was second round. Now I just get better.

Yeah, I mean, these two weeks are incredible. I just came here and I just said to myself, Just stay open-minded, just try to play your game and everything.

Now this is happening, so it's a crazy thing. Also today was a crazy match. I'm just a bit in shock.

Q. You seem you were in tears at the end. Talk me through the emotions.

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I was 1-4 down. She had break points for 5-1. You are not, like, in a good mood. I don't know, I just turn it around. I just kept believe in myself.

Yeah, after the match point, I couldn't believe it. We were playing amazing match. She is a great player. Yeah, I mean, I think everything just went on and, yeah, I just couldn't hold the tears.

Q. You said a moment ago how much you love it here. What is different about pursuing the Wimbledon championship than anything else in tennis?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, everybody knows Wimbledon. I think it's a different tournament. I feel like people in tennis, they know Grand Slams, but people outside tennis, they know Wimbledon. It's the biggest tournament. It's the biggest center court and everything. It's so famous.

I never thought I could play so good here because I didn't do well on grass before. For me, it's just amazing feeling. I don't know, I'm trying so hard in every match. Every match is incredibly difficult here.

Yeah, we'll see what's going to happen next.

Q. What are your first memories of Wimbledon?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: I actually watched Petra when she won for the first time. I was really small I think. I think that, like, I remember.

For me, I felt like it's such a long way, especially when I didn't do well on grass. I don't know. Now it's goal, but it's such a long way still. I feel like everybody is fighting for it. I feel like it's the biggest tournament you can win.

Q. Last October you were playing tennis. Elina Svitolina was having a baby. Can you talk about how astonishing that is. What does she mean to women like yourself in the locker room, you can have a child and still be professional athletes?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: It's incredible what she did. She received a wild card and she's in semis. It's incredible. I feel like it's such a short time after a baby. She's doing amazing things.

Yeah, she's a fighter and she's playing so good. Yeah, I think for us, we can see that we also can manage with baby. It's amazing.

She also did great job in Paris. Now she's doing these things. Yeah, I mean, for me it's incredible she can do this with a baby, and after such a long time also.

Q. Have you spoken to her in the locker room, offered support to her privately?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: We chat a bit on Instagram. Actually, we didn't see each other much.

But yeah, I'm with her all the way. She's incredible. I think she's incredible with everything. She's fighting so much for everything. Now she's just playing amazing tennis also.

She's a super woman, I think (smiling).

Q. You've beaten four seeded players. Svitolina is a wild card. What does that do to your preparation?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: We played a few times, so we know each other. I mean, she's a wild card, but she's playing like a top-10 player. It's no difference for me. I think in semifinals you have to be ready for everything. It's all in.

We'll see. I mean, she's a great player. She's playing so good. We'll see.

I think nothing changes if she's seeded or she is a wild card. For me, it's the same thing.

Q. You mentioned having the call with your husband. Is he here at Wimbledon?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: No, he's at home.

Q. Where is home?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Prague.

Q. Do you think he might come over?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: We'll see. I don't know. I think for semis he won't come. We'll see what happens. He has to work. He has to take care of our cat. He has to stay home (laughter).