PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 19, 2024

Marketa Vondrousova

Press Conference

M. VONDROUSOVA/A. Sabalenka

3-6, 6-3, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Marketa, well done. Very solid performance today. Just talk us through your thoughts on the match and how pleased you are to be in the semifinals.

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I'm very happy with my match today. I think it was a great one, a tough one. She's a fighter, and I think we played a great match. Yeah, we broke each other couple of times, so I think, yeah, it was a very good match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Do you prefer to play a match against someone like Aryna, a big hitter, flat hitter, heavy hitter, or you would like to be against someone where you can hit more shots each rally?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, this is a bit different, and I think it's tough for me. There is no rhythm, and yeah, she's serving great. She hits hard, so there is no time to do anything.

Yeah, for me, these matches are very tough. Yeah, I'm happy, you know, that I managed today.

Q. In terms of just turning that match around, what do you think was the key? What were the adjustments that you made throughout the match that made the difference today?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: I think I started to be a little more aggressive maybe on returns, too, because she's serving pretty well. Yeah, you have to attack the second serve because, yeah, anyway, she's gonna kill you afterwards.

Yeah, I think that was the main thing. Yeah, just, you know, try to stay in the rallies and put as many balls as I could back there (smiling).

Q. Yeah, the second serve particularly as you were towards the end of the match there, you were quite aggressive on it, at least in terms of court placement, and also swinging out wide. Was that something that you felt, especially being a lefty, could be a big advantage for you today?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I think even if you maybe hit hard, but into the middle there is going to come, you know, a very fast forehand or backhand to you. Yeah, I tried to, you know, maybe play, you know, a bit slower but to the sides.

Yeah, I think I returned, yeah, great from the second set. So there was a bit more pressure maybe on her but on me too, because we broke each other couple of times.

So I think, yeah, the return was the main thing.

Q. Marketa, you're a player that I think players don't want to play when they get nervous, when they get tight. You have this ability to really take advantage of that. I'm curious, today in this match, did you sense certain moments where you kind of had her?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: I mean, not really, because we played, you know, great rallies on my serve, you know, when she had breakpoints and she played amazing, amazing rallies.

Yeah, I think, you know, it was very also mental game today maybe. Yeah, I feel like I just, you know, have the ability maybe just put as many balls back as I can and also returns, so that's the main thing.

Yeah, I mean, it was a great rally, so I think that it was a great match.

Q. That was sixth match between you. Four of them were on hard and Aryna won, and you won once on grass and now in Stuttgart on clay. Maybe hard not your favorite surface? Maybe I'm wrong. What is your favorite surface?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: I mean, I don't choose. I think we have to, you know, be able to play everywhere. But yeah, here I didn't play well before. Maybe, I don't know, I just got used to it. Maybe it's more slidy also and it's fast.

Yeah, this year I feel great from the first match. I think I just found something that's working here.

Q. If we go beyond, do you have any connections, reflections, whatever, memories concerning Germany or even this region? Did you learn the language maybe at school?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I actually did. I learned four years, but I just know a couple words.

I was actually born in Sokolov, that's very close to Germany. Yeah, I think I grew up close to Germany but there is, like, nothing special.

Yeah, I learned German, so I think I can say a couple of words. But no, I'm not going to say it now. (Laughter.)

Q. Marketa, you said that you find here something was working. I read that after you won Wimbledon your coach has to get a tattoo. My question will be did you have a deal right now with anyone from your team? Maybe in shape of Porsche?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: No, not really, but, I mean, if you win any tournament, I think that that's going to be something. It's very far, but still, yeah, we have to talk about it (smiling).

But I don't want to just get into it now, so yeah, let's see what's gonna happen. I think every match from now on it's going to be very tough, and everybody is playing great. It's very tough to see now.

Q. It's I think your first top-10 win since Wimbledon. Curious what the victory means to you and how important it is and whether it's important that it was against Aryna, No. 2, AO champion, all that sort of stuff, and then just what it means to make the semifinals here in Stuttgart.

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, so I didn't play after Indian Wells for a couple of weeks, so I didn't know what to expect maybe.

Yeah, I think most important thing, it's for me, for my head, just to know that I can keep up with these players and just play close matches with them and actually, like, win the match. So I think, yeah, it's mostly, like, for me just to know you can do it.

Q. We could talk about cars already as well. Do you have one? Do you need one? Do you want one?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I think we all want one (smiling). Yeah, I think we all have some cars but we don't have these ones. I think we all want one.

But, yeah, it's still a long way. So, yeah, for me it's not good to think about it. I just want to take it match by match and see.