INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 10, 2021

Petra Kvitova

Press Conference

P. KVITOVA/M. Linette

1-6, 6-0, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. A little bit of a roller coaster out there. Can you just talk through your first match in Rome.

PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, I would say it was kind of a woman's score, little bit. Little bit surprised that in the third it wasn't 7-6.

Overall, yeah, I mean, the first set I started very badly. I mean, I was missing almost everything. On the court, not really court, it was bouncing everywhere as well. A little bit windy, which I didn't have a wind since, I don't know, since Madrid, I came to Madrid. It was very, like I just had to used to probably everything.

The beginning of the second set when finally I hold my serve and break her serve, I think since then it was much, much better.

Q. Can you explain to people who don't play tennis or have never been to Madrid and Rome how different it feels to go from playing for a week in Madrid to then jumping onto the clay in Rome and playing?

PETRA KVITOVA: I would say it's a few differences, for sure. For instance, the altitude in Madrid it's really flying a lot. It's the same balls, but I would say that I feel a little bit heavier here in Rome actually those balls. It's flying, but sometimes, you know, I feel like my arm is really getting sore from it.

The courts, I would say here it's more clay. The bounces are really everywhere. Madrid it's more like indoor tournament, I would say, a little bit, with no wind, sometimes no sun as well because really you are playing under the roof.

I mean, that's few things which are a little bit different, but I think this is the main ones.

Q. This year it's a little bit different obviously because there is two weeks between Rome and Roland Garros. Does that impact anything or change anything for you?

PETRA KVITOVA: Actually, I don't think so. I mean, anyway I had it in the plan to play Rome so I am here. I think I will have just a little bit more time to get prepared for French Open, so, I mean, maybe on the other hand, maybe it's good. We will see (smiling).

Q. Looking ahead, I think you have either McHale or Zvonareva in the next round. Can you talk about the potential challenges of playing each player?

PETRA KVITOVA: Christina, we played already. I know she's very good mover. She's American. I'm not sure how she likes play on the clay, but she has a game for clay, that's for sure, with the topspin from the forehand and moving very well.

Against Vera, I mean, it's long time really when we played each other. She's coming back. I mean, she's through the qually, I think, as well, so definitely she can play. That's 100%. So we will see. I mean, it will be nice matchup if I gonna play her after so many years (smiling).

Q. Rome has always been that tournament that's, you know, very crowded when you walk around the grounds, you know, just a very lively vibe. How does it feel just being there with it marginally empty at the moment? Does it feel that different for you?

PETRA KVITOVA: It is very different. I mean, of course you can freely walk outside, which is very nice, because normally you can't. Same like US Open. That's how I enjoyed it. Kind of to walk outside without the people, you could really walk everywhere, which is same here, but, I mean, playing on the center court with no people, it's really -- it feels like you're in the hole and you are just battling there.

But for me, I'm really missing those spectators, especially here, as well. As you said, they can be very crowded as well and very supporting. Suddenly it's so quiet and so sad. I need those emotions a bit, as well, from the crowd.

Maybe it was, you know, as well because of it the first set, because in Madrid we had people sitting in the crowd. It was a little bit different and the atmosphere, as well.

I would say that this is, you know, pretty sad, but I think that since Thursday they are allowed to come, so I really have to work very hard to see them (smiling).

Q. Is it particularly weird, because I know Centrale is built very vertical, like the center court, so does it sound very different as well with it being empty?

PETRA KVITOVA: Well, it just seems really different. It's just, you know, seats over there. It's just gray and three people here and there. Yeah, nobody it clapping. Only Jiri was clapping today.

Yeah, very, very sad I would say. I hope that one day they'll be gone.