QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN

February 14, 2026

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

K. MUCHOVA/V. Mboko

6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, you're the Doha 2026 champion. How are you feeling?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Thank you very much. A little bit overwhelmed, to be honest. Everything is happening so fast. I just feel like I left the court, I went to shower, now I'm here. But, yeah, I'm incredibly happy that I was able to win a title. It's been, honestly, a few years for me when I get this feeling of the victory, so I'm just very happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Obviously you've had so many great results since that first title, but how does it feel differently to have a trophy at the end of the week?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: You know, it's different. It's tough. I would say I nearly forgot the winning feeling, because it's been really quite awhile. To get reminded of it, actually, I was pretty nervous before the match. I'm like, Okay, how am I going to deal with it, how am I going to manage it. And then when you actually make it, and I dealt with that pressure I think very good in today's match, I was just relieved.

And the intensity of the feeling of winning, it's just so nice. Yeah, I'm just trying to enjoy it, because in tennis everything goes so fast. I think sometimes we forget to stop and reflect on the good weeks, or small wins, big wins. My next tournament starts tomorrow (laughing), so it's really tough. But I would just like to stop for a little bit and enjoy it with my team, and just go somewhere tonight with them and have a good time and maybe reflect a little more.

Q. You talked just now about the idea of the winning feeling, and how you felt you almost lost it, given the gap between Korea and now. Can you put into words, I mean, just describe that winning feeling. Was it relief, kind of what was it when you got match point?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I would say relief, but as well I would say I was very proud of myself. I don't hold the best records in the finals. Last time I played I really thought I played good that week, and then I lost pretty easily. So I'm like, then you question yourself a little bit. Like, Can I do it. Because, you know, obviously I hear it all around. Everyone's like saying I only have one title. And it's not that I would take it personally, or that it would describe my tennis or me as a person, but I really wanted to prove that to myself that I still have it in me and that I can win. So I would say I was just very proud how I handled myself today.

Q. Does this trophy change the way you're looking at this season?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I don't think so. I don't know. Obviously it's very nice to start a season this way. It's my biggest win so far, result-wise, the best week for me. Yeah, I'll try to keep going, of course, to keep working, and then we'll see what the rest of the season will bring.

Q. What do you think you did extremely well today to get that win, because she's a tough opponent and you found a way to manage her power pretty well.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I was trying to be focused on myself, to play my game, to change it up. She played incredible matches, as you mentioned, with the hard hitters, I would say. I think that's what she likes, that's what she as well is. She's hitting the ball very hard.

I just tried to mix it up, play my game. Basically, be aggressive at the right point. Yeah, I think as well to be focused on my serve, to keep my serve and serve well, have a higher percentage of the first serve. I think I did that pretty well today.

Q. Are you getting tired of hearing people say, Oh, you have such a different kind of game, we love your game; or are you getting prouder about it because it works well like today.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Sorry, what was the question?

Q. If you're getting tired of hearing people say, Oh, you have such a different game, it's great; and is it getting to be a little bit like, Okay, I know, but I prefer to win these titles a little more than just being proud of it.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: No, I'm not getting tired of it. It's nice obviously when some people like my game and they enjoy it. I as well enjoy it. I like to play like that. Of course, yeah, I didn't get so many wins, but I'm just happy I get a chance to play for a title, and I managed to win it today, and that's where my head is.

Q. This is your first time playing Victoria. What do you think made her a tough opponent? It was a very close match. What do you think about her game, and what made it tough for you to beat her?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, well, as I said before, she's hitting the ball very hard. When you play her it feels like she's kind of fearless. She makes it tough until the last point.

In the second set she broke my serve, and it could go either way. Yeah, she's very fast, very strong. She's super young, so I think she will have a great career and hold a lot of trophies.

Q. You talked earlier about how your next tournament starts tomorrow in Dubai. Sometimes players may not play the tournament directly after, but how do you enjoy the moment of winning a title here in Doha, but quickly shifting gears to the next 1000 tomorrow?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I'm not thinking of it, to be honest, yet. We said with the team that after we are done here that we are going to get burgers together. So I'm starving (laughing), and I kind of look forward to go with them and have a burger and celebrate a little bit.

The good thing is that Dubai is, I don't know, less than an hour flight, I think. But I'll start to think of it a little later.