US OPEN

September 2, 2024

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

K. MUCHOVA/J. Paolini

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Karolina, your thoughts on the win?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: My thoughts... very happy to win again in two sets. I think it was very tricky, tough match.

I was actually a little bit nervous today. I don't even know why, but it was kind of weird match. I had weird feeling in my body whole match, but yeah, I'm glad that I won.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. About a year and a half ago or so when you were having great results in France, talking about your game, you said: I don't like to be like anyone else. It's the type of game that I believe in. Can you just talk about your own feeling about your own game, how it's unique, and what you like about it?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I can't tell if it's unique, but yeah, I just like to change it up. I like to do what I do basically going to the net and actually play a game, you know. Have more fun; not just grind back and play forehands/backhands.

It's how I see the game. It's how I like to play it. It's the things that I like to as well improve in practices and then bring it on the court.

Q. You are usually very understated. You don't share a lot. What are the emotions that you're feeling about continually advancing deep in majors?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I'm very happy. I'm really very happy. Again, it's what I said before. I don't know. I was today even, like, nervous, and I felt as well in the first games that I was going backwards with the shots.

It doesn't happen much to me, so I was a little bit, like, surprised about that. But, yeah, it's important for me. I knew it's important match. I just wanted to do good. So maybe it's all of these feelings about that.

But, yeah, now after match I'm just very happy to be in quarters here.

Q. You have a possible opponent in the next round, one that you haven't played at all and one you've played a few times. Taking each one separately, if you play against Wozniacki, who are your thoughts about her game, what she's done, and the matchup?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, as you said, we never played, so I don't know much. I know she's been World No. 1. She's playing very great game, good strokes. She doesn't miss much. So for sure very tough match.

Against Bia, we played I think last year I guess as well. Maybe we played in Cincinnati very tough battle, three sets. She's a big fighter, lefty.

Both very, very tough opponents. So let the better win, and let's see how I'm going to approach that match.

Q. You are a very tactical player. I was wondering if you are good at using data or you like to analyze your next opponent? How do you see that progress of using this data in women's tennis?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I think it's great, but I don't use it much. I just usually just look at the matches that they played at that tournament and maybe to see few things, but I think these days and against these opponents and girls it's tough to find any weakness.

Yeah, every day is different, and so I try to be in that game and spot in the first few games, like, what could work as well and then bring it right away on the court.

I would say I also play a lot with how I feel on the court and what I feel to play. So tactically, yeah, but then when the match is progressing, I'm just trying to play by feeling actually.

Q. If I could ask, what do you like most about the United States? Secondly, if you could go out to dinner with anyone in tennis outside of your family and team, who would you --

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: In tennis?

Q. In tennis, yes.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Who would I go to dinner? I don't know (laughing). Probably someone -- it has to be, like, active player?

Q. No, it does not have to be.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: It's tough to pick one. I would pick for sure someone like probably Roger or Rafa or Djokovic and try to get some inside info and some stuff. They've won so many majors and stuff like that. So from the point of view like tennis-wise, I would say I would pick them probably.

And United States... well, now we are in New York, and I already talked about it. I really like the city and all that brings. So just, yeah, I always feel good when I'm here, so that's nice. It's a lot of things to like about.

Q. Yesterday Emma Navarro was asked if she had the belief even before the tournament that she could win the tournament, and she said, Yes. She did then; she believes it now. What sort of belief do you have in your game in the possibility to win the tournament?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I'm not really thinking about winning the tournament. I came to the tournament in different position, I would say. Not that many matches played. It was my second tournament on the hard court.

Now playing few matches, I feel like I'm building up the game. I feel better each day on court. I'm just thinking about the match I'm going to play and trying to be prepared as best as possible. Then we'll see how far I can go.

I'm in quarters, and I'm really grateful for that, and we'll see.