OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 8, 2023

Marketa Vondrousova

Press Conference

M. VONDROUSOVA/M. Sherif

6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Marketa, congratulations on your victory today. Your first win as a Grand Slam champion. Just kind of talk about the match and how you got the win today.

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, it's always tough to be coming back as a Grand Slam champion. It's something new for me.

Yeah, I was a bit nervous, and I feel like everybody is going to play great tennis, and everybody wants to beat you. So, yeah, I was a bit nervous, but then I feel like I just play a couple of games, and you are back into your rhythm.

Yeah, it was good, and I'm just happy, you know, to be through to the second round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What have the last few weeks been like for you, and has it been weird at all to be here as a Grand Slam champion, to have that kind of tag? But, also, I know you're a pretty down-to-earth person. It must be kind of a weird feeling.

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, when we came home, the first week was really crazy, and yeah, I went back to my hometown also, so it was amazing.

Then, you know, I was in Prague, so I had a couple of things to do. Yeah, for me I feel like it's a change.

You know, people are recognizing you more, you know, even in the city and everything. Yeah, for me I don't like these kind of things to be seen this much.

Yeah, then I just started to practice, so it was better. Then we went here. Yeah, just I think the few first days was really crazy (laughing).

Q. So after obviously a huge win like that, coming down to a tournament like this now, do you feel any added pressure to maybe live up to that new sense of expectation or follow it up with another good tournament, maybe another win as well? How do you feel? Do you maybe try to stay in the moment more?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, people around me, I feel like they're going to expect so much now.

Yeah, I know if you are a Grand Slam champion, the expectations are very high, but for me it's important to stay just in my small circle and just work on things and just to get through some matches, you know, with nerves and everything and just get used to the pressure and everything. So that's what I'm working on now.

Q. I'm curious. I know you've only played one match as a Grand Slam champion, but I'm curious today whether or not there were moments because it was a bit of a tight match between you and Mayar where having that title, having that stature actually helped you where it kind of reminded you, hey, like, you can play better, you should win this, you know, things like that?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: I feel like I never doubt myself like you should win this because I feel like it's very tough matches against everyone here. And she's 30 in the world, so she's very high, and she's a great player.

It's more like I know I can stay calm in the important situation and just stay focused on every point and just to hold my nerves. That's what I was doing through the whole Wimbledon. I feel like that's the most important thing for me to do.

Q. How is it to play in Canada for the first time?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: The crowd was amazing, and everything here is so nice, and the city is very nice also.

Yeah, I feel like this is a great tournament. It's huge, and I feel like the crowd is really supporting us, so that's very nice to see also.

Q. So the tattoo, did you get one? Did your coach get one? Did you follow through? What happened there?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: So we have one with my sister. We did, like, W. We have small W.

I think I'm going to go with Coach in New York (laughing).

Q. Looking ahead, you get Caroline Wozniacki in the second round. Yeah, what do you make of her coming back and facing her in the second round?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, she's a great champion. I saw a couple of points today, and she didn't look like she was away from, I don't know, three years.

Yeah, I mean, I feel like she has to be ready if she wants to come back. I feel like, you know, it's going to be very tough match because I feel like she's playing some amazing tennis even if she played one match.

I feel like it's going to be a big challenge for both of us, so we'll see. I can't wait to play.