PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 17, 2026

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

K. MUCHOVA/C. Gauff

6-3, 5-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Karolina, well done. A great win today. Just talk us through how pleased you are to get that win over Coco and what you thought you did particularly well.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Thank you very much.

Yeah, it was a tough battle today. It's always very tough against her. She's a tough player, so I expected a very tough match.

I tried to, you know, get some advantages on clay that I can use, change of rhythm, slice a lot, and keep pressuring her, and I think I did that well.

Yeah, I think the third set was a battle. It was very physical, as well, and I'm glad I managed the first break and then I was able to keep it going.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Well done today. I know you just talked about you're probably used to playing Coco on hard court. I think this was the first time you played her on clay, and you just referenced some of the advantages that you think you had. Can you share a bit more on how you approached the match compared to previously playing her on hard court with it now being on clay?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, it was our first meeting on clay. We've never played before. But I think she's unbelievable player on clay, like, I feel her last-year clay season, Roland Garros champion, just incredible mover. So I just knew that I have to play really well to get a chance to win.

I just tried to play my game, as well. As I mentioned, I tried to slice it up, break her rhythm, and yeah, it was working today.

Q. How do you plan your clay court season also goal-wise and everything? What do you approach?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Well, this tournament, actually, I'm kind of taking as a nice preparation. You know, we drove here by car. This tournament is so nice. I'm loving my time here, to be honest.

Yeah, just, you know, trying to get used to clay, used to the game, change it up a little bit from the hard court. Then, yeah, I'm off to Madrid, Rome, and Paris.

And I didn't really set my goals yet (smiling).

Q. I wanted to ask specifically about your sliding. I was really impressed by it. I think there was one point in the second set Coco had you going back and forth. I was focused on your sliding. Is that something during practice you just train without even having a racquet in hand? Going from side to side? Curious how you honed in on sliding specifically on clay.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I'd say, you know, like, last week or the first match, it was still not there. I think that match by match I'm getting better at that.

Not really, to be honest, but obviously I'm from Europe, from Czech Republic, I was growing up on the clay court, so the surface is familiar to me. I just like it, you know. I like, as well, going from hard court to the clay, I kind of enjoy every specific of any surface, and I like clay.

Yeah, just getting used to it, and I think match by match I'm better and better timing-wise and sliding and all that.

Q. A general question. What are your connections maybe and feelings concerning Germany? Do you speak a little bit of German? Do you like cars or Germany football teams, whatever, music?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: When I was younger I played German club matches, so I played for Radolfzell. It's nice, because I meet here and there some people from the team. So, as well, familiar faces to me, so it's nice. So I spent some time playing club matches.

Yeah, obviously it's our neighbor, Germany, so it's very close to me. I don't really follow any of football or, like, music, so I can't say.

Q. Coming back to the tournament, tomorrow gonna have a match against Svitolina, which is, in your head-to-head against her, it's almost the same as it was with Coco. She has 3-0 against you, but never played on clay. How's your specific mindset for this game?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: To be honest, you know, as you can see, I just came straight from shower here, and I didn't really think of tomorrow's match.

Yeah, another great competitor, Elina, is having an incredible season so far. So I'll still have to, you know, check the match she played today and this week and talk with my coach, but I wouldn't expect anything less than a very tough match.

Q. I think we didn't talk already about that medical treatment during the second set. Were you concerned? Did you recognize anything?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Sorry. Who? Me?

THE MODERATOR: She had a medical treatment?

Q. No, not you. A spectator --

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, yeah.

Q. -- had a treatment during the second set.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's never nice to see. I hope that the gentleman is feeling good. I didn't really know what was happening. I just thought he was feeling unwell, but I hope that the medical team take care of him and that he's feeling good.