BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

January 9, 2026

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

K. MUCHOVA/E. Rybakina

6-2, 2-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Through to the semis here. How proud are you of your week here till now? What's your expectation for tomorrow?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Thank you very much. Yeah, I'm super pleased. Honestly, couldn't be better. Played three matches, two against top-10 players.

It's a way to start a year, and it's great to have this experience on the court, so I'm very pleased.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Where does this win rate for you? You have had some great success in your past, playing in Grand Slam finals, but to knock off a top-10, top-5 player so early in the tournament, where does this rate for you?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I mean, it's always good if you have a great result, especially against these players. It was such a close match today. It could go either way, I think, but I'm happy I managed, especially the end of the match, it's something that I was struggling with end of the season to close out matches on my serve.

It worked yesterday and today, so I'm pleased with that. Especially first tournament of season, you kind of never know what to expect, how you're going to come out, how others are prepared. I'm just happy. Yeah, so far I'm feeling good on court.

Q. What are you doing in the offseason to be able to come and start this season so strongly?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I mean, what I do every year. Just try to prepare as best as I can. Maybe work a few more things, I would say more technically my serve, and then the other stuff, a lot of stuff in the gym.

Yeah, just try to keep it healthy and maybe get a little stronger and work on the things that we always work and try to push it a little bit better. I wouldn't say anything different than the other years.

Q. So keeping it consistent? When it comes to the AO, do you start mentally preparing for that now? That's just around the corner. You're obviously in really good touch. Do you start thinking about how you're going to tackle that?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: No, I didn't think of Australian Open. I'm still here, so I didn't think any further than today and maybe tomorrow.

But I'll have week off. I'm not playing any tournament next week, so I look forward to go to Melbourne, have a practice week, and then start a Grand Slam.

Q. You're used to playing a lot of long matches, like three-set matches, when we look at your record. Is there a reason for that, you think?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I don't know (smiling). I don't know. It's tough matches. I would be obviously happy to play in two sets, but, you know, the other side, there is as well someone who is trying to win, so it's tough.

But for sure what happens to me sometimes, I have these drops in the match that I'm playing really well, and then I'm not playing that well (smiling). So it's up and down, but no, I don't have any -- yeah, I don't know why.

Q. And you might play against Aryna in the next one. You won the last three matches against her, which I think you're the only player on tour. What makes you feel well against her?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I honestly don't think we played last year, so, you know, if it's year and a half back, so for sure we both are different players than we were before.

But yeah, these matches before, again, it was very long battles. I think always three-setter and could go either way, and it went mine.

So all I'm expecting is a tough battle. Even if it's Aryna or if it's Keys, it's really tough out here. The draw is crazy strong out here for a 500 tournament, so just expecting another tough battle.