CHINA OPEN

October 6, 2024

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/K. Muchova

6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Karolina, a fantastic run to the final here in Beijing. Stopped just short today by Coco. Give us your overall thoughts on the match.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Thank you.

Thoughts on the match? Yeah, it was very tough match. As I said on the court, Coco outplayed me today. I think I helped her a little bit. But it was not easy. She served good, played good. Yeah, tough battle.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. There are plenty of positives from this tournament to take into the rest of the season. What did you learn about your game and yourself over the course of this past week?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: What did I learn? I learned, hmmm...

Well, I mean, I think I had some rest since the US Open. I just practiced just a little bit. Then I picked up pretty fast with the matches here. I played good. I think I picked up my form again and I performed well. I held my focus.

Yeah, I think just that I was pretty consistent in all those matches, which is nice to get to know that. That's probably about it (smiling).

Q. You said you felt that you helped her a little bit today. In what sense?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I think it was my I don't want to say worst, but for sure not the best. Yeah, maybe it was actually one of the worst matches that I played here. I think I was playing the other matches pretty solid. I served better. I wasn't doing that many mistakes. Of course, she pushed me and made me do those errors.

But yeah, I didn't help myself with the serve. That's my game usually. I keep serve. I wasn't able to do that today.

Yeah, I think was my weakest performance. In that way I meant that I help her a little bit. But obviously she made it tough and she played really great.

Q. In terms of Coco's game, does she have a ball that doesn't suit you? Sometimes it can be a little bit no pace. Sometimes some players prefer the pace. I'm curious, once you get into the rallies, serve aside, is there something she does that makes you uncomfortable?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Probably, yes (smiling). I mean, I lost to her three times in a row. I'll say very similar losses. I lost them all the same way. It was always the latest rounds of the tournaments when I got many matches under the belt. It's very physical with her. I felt like the second one always in the rallies.

Yeah, I guess her game... I don't know. It's tough to say. I felt like I didn't play my best, so it's tough to say. It makes me probably uncomfortable when I lost to her three times in a row.

Q. Obviously you defeated the No. 2, Aryna, on Friday, then No. 7 Zheng yesterday. You fought till the end against No. 6 today. Coming off the injury, what momentum does that give you going into the rest of the season?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, it's really nice to be getting back there, yeah, gaining the confidence, the game, and as well the fitness. It's nothing you can work on outside the court to get these real matches. I need I think as many matches as I can. It's good for me for, as you mentioned, the rest of the season and for next season.

I'm just trying to play the ball, play every match I can. For sure it's good to know that I can beat these players, top players. Yeah, it's good.

Q. Fitness-wise, energy in the tank, do you anticipate it will be a difficult turnaround to Wuhan or are you feeling physically good going into another 1000?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, it's going to be very challenging. I mean, now I played three days in a row. It's a lot. Tomorrow's a travel day, then play on Tuesday another match. I think even if I would be very, very ready, very well-prepared, it's just very tough for anyone.

If I would want to win Wuhan, I would need to play from Tuesday six matches in a row against the best. It's I would say almost impossible. So it's very tough and very challenging.

I'll see how it's going to work.