PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 18, 2026

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

K. MUCHOVA/E. Svitolina

6-4, 2-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Karolina, congratulations. Into the final here after a really great match. Just talk us through what you're most pleased about and how great the support out there was today.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Thank you very much.

Yeah, I'll repeat myself to say that it's incredible to play here. The crowd is always packed, and it's nice the way that the people support us here.

Today, yeah, very tough and physical match against Elina. Yeah, I'm very pleased with the way I handled myself at the end of the third set when it was 4-4 with that break, and that I was able to finish it off.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I thought one of the areas that was most effective, there would be times when you would serve I think typically to her backhand, and you'd immediately come to the net and try to finish the point there. Was that something you wanted to implement today as a key to finishing the point pretty quickly?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Well, I thought it was working, so I was trying to -- you know, that's what exactly happened in the second set. I think I kind of start to play the way she likes to play and play the long rallies.

Then I just realized, okay, I have to again be more aggressive and try to approach the net or change the rhythm. I think that's the way that it's good for me to play against her.

Q. As you said before, it was very physical match. Also the mental part was very demanding. I wanted to ask, basically how do you feel at the moment? How was the recovery from yesterday and how much really challenging was today?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I mean, it's tennis, but it's tough to play every day these big tournaments when it's only a week, so you play basically every day. So I try my best to recover as much as I can. I try to do everything.

But obviously I feel it, when we play over two hours, you know, you're sliding on the clay, so body feels it. I know about it, but I'm just trying to not thinking of it too much. As well, I know that with every match, I'm as well gaining good physique from that.

Yeah, just, you know, I'm in the final, so I think the body feels it, of course. It was four tough matches. So I'm just glad to still be playing.

Q. What could you tell us about certain routines you probably like and maybe superstitions? I like details.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: What is it, the first one?

Q. Superstitions and routines.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Oh, yeah. Well, on this tournament, actually, we going every morning with the team for a coffee. Found a nice spot here around, so we always get out from this bubble we have here and just, like, sit in the sun. It's been nice weather last few days. I think I would put that as a routine that I do here.

But then just trying to, yeah, you know, the warmups, you know, it's every day the same. Just typical tennis stuff.

Q. Superstitions?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: No, I don't have any.

Q. Yesterday you mentioned that you have played in Radolfzell, Lake Constance. For what time, and some friends from the earlier time are here in the Porsche Arena, how many friends are there, and how is the contact?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, tough to remember. It's been, really, I think I was junior at that time, so it's been really long, long, long time ago.

But, yeah, I have met here the coach of the team. Overall, you know, I hear sometimes some people from Czech. The borders are close, so I guess people just come here the first day. I met my friend who was here with Porsche actually from Czech, so it's nice to see familiar faces.

Q. Outside this bubble, I wonder if you read or heard the news about Marketa Vondrousova, if you spoke to her, you were aware, or just your thoughts on what happened?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I mean, I'm in touch with Marketa, but I honestly don't really want to comment on it, because I don't know any too close information about that. Obviously I feel sorry for her, and I hope she's gonna get out of it.

Q. What's your connection to cars? Do you drive? Do you have a license very early, did you have it? Are you used to drive yourself or do you more drive here maybe in the tournament circumstance, having a driver?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I have a license, and I actually love to drive, because usually we are on the way so I don't get too much chance to drive my car, but when I'm home, I drive myself, I don't have a driver, and I enjoy it.

Q. Talking about the final, you know, Mirra or Elena await for you. Your thoughts on playing either of them. For both, it would be the first time playing on clay, if I'm not mistaken, but your thoughts on playing either of them?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I mean, both of them, Mirra obviously coming from winning last week a tournament in similar conditions, I would say, in Linz. So she has some good matches under her belt. Very tough opponent.

Elena, you know, winning slam this year, obviously one of the best players, won this tournament in the past, so she knows how to play here.

Either of them, very tough competitors, and I'll definitely have to bring my A game to be able to challenge them.

Q. We have talked about this yesterday for us, from the exterior. This tournament looks like you're in a Tarantino movie. You're getting revenge on everyone. You had 0-6 against Coco. You beat her here for the first time. You had 0-3 against Elina Svitolina. You beat her here for the first time. It's about clay or it's about your mindset? What is different now?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Well, definitely I never played them on the clay, so that might be the factor. Yeah, I don't know. It was tough matches. You know, both of them very close. I think you never know who is going to come out as a winner, three-setters.

I think this time I was just, yeah, I would say brave and I played good in tough moments. I think these tough matches is always about who's gonna take that advantage when it's close and able to convert it on my side, and I'm happy it happened yesterday and today again.

Q. I don't know if you know that in Poland, after every Iga's loss in last month, people, Polish fans, are keeping crossed fingers for your triumph in every tournament after their loss. Do you know about it? And what do you think about it?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: No, I don't know about it. But, yeah, it's so nice. Another neighbor, I would say, to Czech is Poland. So it's nice that people are pulling for me, and I appreciate it a lot.