WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 20, 2023

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/K. Muchova

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Not the result you wanted today, but you must be pleased with your week, making your top-10 debut tomorrow.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, about that I'm really happy to make a top-10 debut. It's always a thing that is in your mind when you play tennis, to make it to top 10. It's happening for me tomorrow, so that's really nice result.

Today's match, yeah, I fell little short today. I was very hot. Coco played great. She kept me in the rallies. I felt that I miss a little. Yeah, honestly I was a little bit tired, so it was tough to keep up with her. She played great. So tough match.

THE MODERATOR: Who would like the first question?

Q. You hadn't played Coco before. As you felt her ball, the different situations, what impressed you? Did anything surprise you about the way she played?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: She's very fast. I would say she really gets to most of the balls so you always have to expect that one more ball is coming.

And, yeah, she didn't really miss many balls from the rallies, or maybe I was the one doing mistakes, I don't know (smiling). But, yeah, great mover. Great defense, offense. Didn't make many mistakes.

Yeah, solid game.

Q. Yesterday you said you could feel it in your bones, the 10 hours that you had spent on court. How did you feel waking up today? Were you able to prepare? What did you do to get ready for the match?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, well, we did what we could yesterday with the recovery. Yeah, I went sleep little bit late because of all the preparations to be ready as best as I could.

Yeah, I didn't have that much time as I would want to. I think week off would be better before the match. No, I'm joking (laughter).

Yeah, I was a little tired coming into the match. I knew I have to play fast today, not be in the rallies, because it's been many three-setters here for me, long matches, tough matches. To play day after day and not have the day off, it's very physical. Yeah, in that I was worse one today.

Q. How would you compare the courts in Cincinnati to any other courts? Are they fast?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: They're normal. Not really fast. I would say the balls are a little flying here, but the courts, it's a little faster, a little slower here and there.

It's middle, like normal. Nothing too fast.

Q. For a lot of your career you would have been an underdog, toppling big names. How do you think you'll enjoy being a top player, things that come with it? There can be more pressure, but also better draws, some byes maybe.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: That would be nice to have some byes, yeah (smiling).

Yeah, I mean, I work for this. I'll for sure enjoy to be. But even now I've been for a few weeks top-20 player. I feel going into the matches that everyone is going for you a little bit more. But it is what it is. I think it just works like that.

I'll for sure enjoy the fact that I built to be close to, yeah, being top 10, to enjoy this position in tennis.

Q. Obviously you'll be in the top 10. Marketa is already there. Another player that also plays with variety is Ons. A nice kind of top-10 group that doesn't necessarily play the bang-bang tennis that we're used to seeing in the top 10. From your perspective, what is the advantage of having that play style at the elite level? What can be the disadvantage of having that play style at the elite level?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: The advantage? Well, I think the advantage is you can win matches with that game style. You can win differently. Maybe as well, people enjoy that game more. That's nice to see when people support that kind of game.

Disadvantage? I would say it's more tough, this game, than to, as you mentioned, bang-bang game. This one is little bit you have to be focused, you have to know what you do, you have to build the points. Yeah, I see it maybe it's little bit more tricky, as well.

I'm happy it is changing a little bit. I think I, as well, see other players now coming more to the net, kind of developing. They want to do it, too. It's nice to see that.

Q. The conditions were very hot today. We saw you with ice. Did you struggle with the heat? Did it affect your game today?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I really struggled with that heat today. It got to me a little bit. Yeah, I was trying to use the time I had in between points to chill out a little bit, but I couldn't find a shadow (laughter). There was some time when I was like, Oh, I'll not make it to another side.

But, yeah, it is what it is. It was the same for both of us. She handled it way better than I did, I think. But, yeah, I mean, it's not going to be different in New York. In Asia it's really hot conditions. You will have to get used to it.

Yeah, this was the fifth match. I was praying it's not going to be this hot, but unfortunately, yeah.

Q. About the bang-bang tennis. Do you wish you would be able to have the bang-bang tennis on days like this?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I think I have a bang-bang tennis, too. If I would want to, I can play that, too. I'm not really focused on that. There are better players in that than I am. I think I can, as well, play fast.

Q. Right now in the rankings next week, there will be Czech players at 9, 10, 11, 12.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: It's nice. I actually saw my close friend today. She posted, someone I think tweeted it, that me and Marketa were last year outside of 200. Tomorrow we both top 10. I saw that. It was actually, like, touching. It's really nice.

I'm really happy for her, for myself. Yeah, then there is another bunch of Czechs behind us. It's nice to see that they're doing great.

Q. How much of a motivation is it for you to make the Olympics next year? How much of a challenge is that given how big the competition is?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, you have to be top-10 player to make Olympics cut in Czech, it feels like.

Yeah, I'm not really thinking about Olympics. Honestly, I've never competed in Olympic Games. I would really want to. It is a big motivation. It's a goal for next year. I'm not thinking about it now, but I will really try to get the spot.

Yeah, it's very, very tough in Czech to get that spot. It's going to be fun (laughter).

Q. What was it like feeding off the energy of these fans in Cincinnati this week?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Oh, something amazing, really. When you come in the club, we have like this short path when you can chat a little bit with people, and they're always standing there. It's just really, really nice for them to support you, support all of us here.

Yeah, the stadiums were almost every time full. I really like it. I like to interact as well with the fans here and there. Yeah, it was really great week here in Cincinnati.

Q. If I'm right, I think you were 224 this week last year.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: 224?

Q. I think.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I didn't even play last year. I came here last year just to withdraw. I was here, but...

Q. How do you help people understand week in and week out the mentality you have to have that, no matter what the number is next to your name, sometimes you have an early loss and you pack your bags?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, honestly last year was really tough year for me. I didn't want to see myself there, to be outside of 200. But you kind of have to accept it.

I wish I had in myself -- when I practice with someone from top 20, with the girls, I felt like I can beat them. I have a similar game. I was outside of 200. You have to accept it and kind of fight through and find a way how to get back.

I think I made it and I'm really proud of it. I think it makes me stronger, as well, to get there because it's not easy. It's not like this. You really have to build up. Yeah, I'm just really, really lucky and happy that I am where I am now.