THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2024

Marketa Vondrousova

Press Conference

J. BOUZAS MANEIRO/M. Vondrousova

6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Marketa, really tough day today. Could you give us your thoughts.

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, it was a tough match. I think she played great match. Yeah, I wasn't at my best.

But yeah. I was happy to be back on the Centre Court. Yeah, it was really tough.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You said before the tournament that you expected to be nervous going out there. What was the reality like for you, both in the preparation and walking out to Centre Court?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I think practice was fine and everything. Yeah, today I was a bit scared because of my leg, too. But I don't think that was the reason. I felt the nervous from the start.

Yeah, I mean, she was also playing a good match. That was kind of tough, too. Yeah, overall it was very tough. Yeah, it's tough feelings also to go back. I feel like everybody just expects you to win maybe. That's tough, too.

Yeah, I was happy to be back on the Centre Court. Yeah, it just didn't go as planned today.

Q. Was there any kind of physical issue? You've struggled in the last few weeks. Did that affect you at all?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Not really. I think I was a bit slower maybe. I was a bit scared.

But, yeah, you know, credits to her. She was playing a good match, too. Yeah, I didn't feel at my best. I think she didn't gave me many points for free, too. So credits to her, too.

Q. You talked a couple days ago about the freedom you felt here last year, how great that felt. How different did it feel maybe?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, very different. Yeah, it's tough to go out defending the title. Yeah, I was really nervous from the morning and everything. Yeah, she was also playing good tennis, so that's kind of tough, too. You don't have many chances to, I don't know, just win free points maybe. She was returning also good.

Yeah, my serve wasn't so good today. Overall, I think I wasn't at my best, and she was playing good.

Q. As you look back over the last year, what will you remember most about being the reigning Wimbledon champion? How much of that was a factor in your thinking as you walked out on the court today?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I feel like even if you, like, don't want to think about it, you just think about it, I don't know, all the time here. I see posters here and everything, my name everywhere.

Yeah, I mean, it was amazing feeling to go back on the Centre Court. The match was very tough. Yeah, now it's liked mixed feelings. I love to be here. I would love to stay longer also. I won last year. Yeah, it was amazing.

Yeah, today was really tough.

Q. I wanted to ask about the pressure of being the defending champion. Is that something you've been feeling for a little while or did it creep up on you today?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Not really. I played good in Paris. I also felt good in Berlin. Then I did the injury, so I didn't play for a couple days. Here practice was good. Matches, always different.

Yeah, today I was really nervous since the start. I, like, couldn't maybe shake it off. Yeah, also she was playing good. I didn't, I don't know, like had many chances to come back to the match or she didn't give me much free points also.

Yeah, credits to her. I'm going to be back stronger, I hope.