WTA FINALS

October 28, 2023

Marketa Vondrousova

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to Cancun. In March you ranked outside the top 100. Now you're sitting here today. What does that mean to you?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, it was a great season. I was coming back from an injury, so yeah, deep down I knew I can play good tennis. I mean, no one expected this I feel like.

Yeah, I'm just really honored to be here. It's really special.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How do you find it to be in the tour as a champion of Grand Slam?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, it's still pretty new to me. I played some good tournaments after Wimbledon, so that was very important to me to have as many matches as I could. Yeah, I'm just really happy with the way I played the whole season.

Yeah, it's amazing I won a Grand Slam. That's really special. It's going to stick with me my whole life.

Q. We're used to seeing Czech Republic players at this level, Pliskova, Kvitkova... How do you explain the success that the Czech Republic has had producing young players?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I feel like everybody's asking the same question, so...

I don't think we really know the answers. Yeah, I feel like we are just pushing each other so much. Every tournament there is so many girls playing, I don't know, from like quarters to semis. Every tournament you see some Czech flags. It's also great to see the successes we had in Fed Cup.

I feel like for me, it was a great motivation to see the girls doing it. For me, it's that: you can see you can do it even from a small country.

Q. When you look back on your career, you said no one expected for you to be here a few months ago, but what was the lowest part of the last few years, the injuries, not being able to sustain? Can you tell us what was the worst moment so we can recognize how big this moment is?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, I played great tennis before the surgeries, then I had to stop for, like, six months. That's never easy. Then coming back to the top level, it's never easy. You never know what's going to happen, how you're going to play.

Yeah, for me, I think the second one was a bit better 'cause I know what to expect. But, I mean, overall it's very tough to stop when you're playing good tennis.

I feel like that was for me the tough part.

Q. When you think about your game and what you try to do to an opponent on the court, obviously this field has power players, crafty players, what are you trying to do when you are playing your best tennis to win matches, if that makes sense?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: I mean, I'm sure like I'm more crafty. I don't have that much power as other girls maybe. I feel like I'm the smallest here, too (laughter). It's a bit tough sometimes.

Yes, since I was small, I was always the smallest so I had to find ways. I feel like my lefty is also a bit annoying for every other players.

Yeah, that's what I'm trying to do, just to be annoying also (laughter).

Q. The stadium was a topic all week. What do you think about it?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, I feel like everybody's doing what's in their power. It was such a short notice to build everything. I feel like everybody's really trying. At least we could play today on the center court. Yeah, overall it's great here. The hotel is great. People are amazing.

I feel for us it's a bit tough to not play on a center court maybe a little bit more. Still I feel like everybody's trying really hard, so that's great.

Q. With the wind kind of playing probably a role in the tennis, how is the wind for you? Nobody likes playing in wind, but do you see that as something that could be an advantage for you with the type of game, wanting to be annoying, or do you feel it's going to be something you have to overcome?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I feel like maybe you can use dropshots more. But then, like, I feel like it's very tough to play in the wind. It's part of the game. I came a bit earlier, so I just get used to it.

I feel like it's the same for everyone, so we just have to get used to it and try to play with it. We'll see.

Q. Have you ever dressed up for Halloween?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: No.

Q. If you were going to dress up, what do you think would be the costume that you'd pick?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: I don't really know. I never thought about it. Because, like, we don't even have it in Czech. It's tough for us. I'll think about it and then I'll answer.