US OPEN

August 29, 2024

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

K. MUCHOVA/N. Osaka

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Big victory. Your thoughts?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: My thoughts... tough match. Really happy that I was able to finish in two sets. Yeah, really tough battle. Really nice atmosphere. I didn't play these matches for a bit, so I'm just really happy with the win today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It seemed that you were very clutch and when you needed to do something, you did it. So even like she had the first break point. You save it, and then you break. How easily does that come back to you when you've had gaps and injuries and things like that? How much weight do you put on your ability to do that?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I just tried to not even get to those points honestly. Yeah, I mean, it's for sure more complicated for me than it was before. I would say it's the matches that the rhythm and all of that to go through these matches and go through these -- how you say it -- through these balls.

If I already played 20 matches and had these break points down, you have different confidence than I have now. I was just trying to be fully focused and do all I could in those moments.

Yeah, today it worked pretty good. It will help me for next matches for sure.

Q. In terms of your confidence you said the other day that you kind of don't really know physically and game-wise what shows up on any given day. So when you step onto that court ahead of playing Naomi, big circumstance, where does your confidence come from for this match to know that you can beat her?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Just, again, I was just really trying to be focused. I know she's amazing player and that I have to bring the A-game to have a chance. So I was just trying to be really focused on myself.

I knew I have to serve good because her serve is really good. So I was just trying to be kind of locked in myself and focused out there.

Yeah, then the energy and the big court and all that, it for sure helps me. I like that. Yeah, I guess that's it.

Q. How would you describe your journey from last year here until today?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: The journey? Well, it's a long journey. It's a year. I'm for sure in a different position than I was last year. It's tough to -- I don't even want to compare myself to last year honestly, but yeah, it was kind of bumpy road.

I had the surgery, and I didn't know if I will play or not. I'm just really grateful honestly that I'm here, that I can play, that I'm pain-free, and that I have a chance to play these matches.

Q. Seems like you were able to read her serve. You returned really well. Can you talk a little bit about your return today?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Return... well, actually here and there I was just guessing (laughing), guessing the sides. I was good at it today with a guess.

So I didn't really -- I couldn't really read it. Her serve is really good, powerful, and you can't really read it from the toss. So I know if she's going to hit good angle, I'm not going to reach it if I'm just going to stand there. So I was trying to change position and, again, here and there guess a side and go for it. Yeah, it worked.

Q. During the match, I thought you used your, slice both sides, really well and more as the match went on. How much of that was the plan when you went into it, and how much of it was seeing kind of how she reacted to it?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: It was a plan. I wanted to change the rhythm. That was one of the things that I wanted to play today. I tried it. I felt like it was working, so I just stick to that plan.

Yeah, I was trying to play it through whole match. I think most of the time it worked. So I was just keep on going.

Q. I just wondered how you found the experience of playing Naomi on this court and also just generally how much she adds to the tour when she's playing and feels like getting closer to her best?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, the court and the atmosphere is amazing. They were mostly cheering for Naomi, but that's natural. But I just think, yeah, so many people coming out and the show and everything about that is just -- I would say it's why I play tennis and what I like about it, the atmosphere and the energy. So it was really, really good today, I would say.

Yeah, she's an amazing player. She won it here, and I'm really happy to see her back. I think she is playing really great and getting back to the top shape as she was before.

Yeah, congrats and good luck to her.