THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2021

Karolina Pliskova

Press Conference

KA. PLISKOVA/T. Martincova

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. That seemed like quite a tough, close match at times today. How do you feel about your game in that match? How do you feel about your game overall so far in the tournament?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: Yeah, I mean, a bit tough. Of course we had a bit longer than maybe I thought or I planned. I think the score doesn't really look the way it was, because I think there were a couple close games. Actually the first two games just took 20 minutes.

I think she was really playing well. Of course she had nothing to lose, so I think she played a great match, but I thought I did well at the important moments. I was holding my serve. Any time it was close situation I think I played really good shots.

Overall I think all those matches which I played here I think I did quite good job. Super solid, serving well, and playing quite the game I want to play actually.

Of course there's always going to be mistakes, but most of the time I think I did things which we want to do and the way I want to play, so so far I think everything is good.

Q. How do you describe the way that you want to play on grass and at Wimbledon? What's your kind of game plan?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: I mean, you can't really wait for some mistakes. You need to go for it. So that's somehow the mindset since we started this, actually all those tournaments on grass, because there you cannot really wait and run and see. I think sometimes it's nice to play some slice, something a bit different.

Other than that, you need to just like go for your shots, which I believe if I go for it I have a big chance to beat anybody. That's the plan.

Q. How would you describe your thoughts about pursuing a major title today versus when you first came onto the tour?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: I mean, you can't really compare, because I have so much experience, so, I mean, of course you use that in matches like this. Maybe especially after players which, you know, they never been in third round, never been in the second week, I think that can really help. Of course you approach a bit differently the slams because you know what to do. You know how to practice, you know what to do on your day off.

So I think it's about experience a lot. And, yeah, I think I'm doing better and better. Of course not every time. It doesn't mean you can't lose. But it's about the things which you do. I think I found a bit what is working for me, and, yeah, hopefully that's why, because I'm in the second week.

Q. It's possible in the next round you play Sloane Stephens. If Sloane Stephens is your opponent, how would you describe that matchup?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: I mean, this year somehow I play always the same people, so I don't know what's wrong with it (smiling). Also different surface. I think it can be anything. I still believe I can win against anybody, so that's always the mindset.

But of course she's gonna be tough. I think they gonna go third set what I saw right now. I think she's much, let's say, more dangerous for me on clay. I think we never played on grass. Let's see what it's gonna be.

Q. I was looking at the statistics, and I think at the moment you're top for aces and also top for double faults. Do you think that's an important thing for you on grass to really go for your second serve and the double faults is something you're happy with, because, overall you think it's really best to go for it?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: I think some of the double faults I think they are quite good, in a good way. But some of them I think they should not be there. Definitely not.

But so far, if it's like positive and negative, I think that's good combination if it's also like lot of aces, and I feel like I also with the second serve I do a lot of points. Then you just put the pressure on opponent, on their serve.

So I think that's something definitely I'm going for the serve a bit more here, because I think you can just have more points with that if you just like go for the serve. Because kick doesn't really work here, so no sense just to put the serve in and wait what's gonna happen. I think it's better to go for a bit more.

Q. I'm writing an article about a player you have played a lot, Jelena Ostapenko, and I'm curious if you could describe what it's like to play against Ostapenko, because it seems like it's a roller coaster a lot of times.

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: Yeah, I mean, that's true, but from my experience I think I never really had like a horrible match with her. We had always good level, I think. I don't know if it's because I'm a top player and we just had like so many good matches in the past that she always kind of focus.

I feel it's always like that, because even this year we play twice. We play Rome and Stuttgart and always super close, and actually maybe one of my best matches this year against her. I was lucky I won both of them.

But she has such a talent. I think if she can -- and she's still super young. I think if she can maintain a bit her level she can be super dangerous. You can see that she can still win tournaments. Of course she's a bit up and down, amazing player, amazing shots she can play, can just smash a winner from any position of the court.

Of course she has a Grand Slam, she has couple titles, so she's still super high level. I think if she could maintain a bit, she could be much more high, let's say, in the ranking.

I have to say she's not my favorite opponent. Of course I beat her quite a lot of times, but it's always tough to play.