THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 11, 2026

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

L. NOSKOVA/K. Muchova

6-2, 5-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Karolina, I know it's obviously a very tough defeat for you to take today. Can you take some positives from the tournament as a whole?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, just a tough defeat. I'm very disappointed. But yeah, I mean, getting to the final, I'll definitely take that before the tournament started.

I had great couple of weeks. I think with the time I'll be happy with the results I've made past weeks.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you take us back to the second set when you saved all those match points, the crowd were going crazy. What was going through your mind all those big points?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: What was going through my mind? I just wanted to, you know, fight for every point. This tournament matters to me. I'm like, okay, I don't want to lose 2-6, 2-6. I'm like, I'm going to do everything to break her serve and keep my serve. I was still believing that I can turn it around.

So that was in my head.

Q. It was kind of windy. It affected a little bit your game or not?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I mean, yeah, the wind affects it definitely for the serve, and as well, if you play some slow shots, it does affect the game.

Q. She was obviously on top for the first set and a half. You must be proud of how you were able to turn it around and fight back and take it to a third?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I think I started really slow today. On the other hand, Linda started really strong, really good serving games. She played really fast. I was kind of looking for myself. It took a lot of power and strength out of me, I would say, to get back in that second set. I gave it my all.

Yeah, as you mentioned before, the people were cheering on me. I felt it. I felt the support. I felt the momentum in the second set, that I turn it around. It was definitely nice that it happened. It took, as I said, some strength out of me.

Unfortunately then the start of the third kind of slipped through my fingers.

Q. Talking about the start of the third set, do you feel maybe the biggest regret you can have in this match, maybe the start of the third?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, yeah, definitely. Everything's happening so fast now, I didn't really look back too much. If I had one regret, I would say in the first game of the second set when I had advantage, I had the forehand when I wanted to go down the line and I hit it back cross, and then she smashed it.

If I get that lead, 1-0, it would definitely feel different for me to start the set that way, but it didn't happen.

Q. You mentioned about starting slowly, then coming back in the second set. How did you think overall of your performance today compared to how you can play?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I think today was one of my worst matches, I would say, from this tournament. I think I played better the other matches, definitely, starting slow.

On the other hand, again, credit to Linda. She played well and it made it tough for me.

I mean, in the second set when I made that break and was able to break again and hold serve and win that second set, I repeat myself, I felt the momentum. I felt like, okay, I can do it. I can turn it around. Even though I didn't feel so good on the court today, I'm just going to put the ball over the net however.

Yeah, but then, again, didn't happen.

Q. Do you have a sense of why it wasn't your best performance today? Did you feel anything going out there?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Well, I'd say after the semifinals, it was pretty tough match. I definitely felt it physically. So I would say I was a little more tired after that match with Coco.

I didn't want to think of it. I was like, okay, I'm going to give it my all. I think maybe that, definitely. The nerves, as well. I really, really wanted to win today. So maybe it tied my hands a little bit today from the start.

But yeah.

Q. In your experience, how long will it take to overcome the loss? Of course, there is a lot of emotion. In your words to the crowd you said, I'll be back. How long will it take to overcome the defeat?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I don't know. It will definitely take me few days. But again, I was in the finals. It's still pretty great achievement. It's still something I would take before the tournament.

I think my game is good. I'm improving. So I feel good on the court. Yeah, it's a dream of mine, it's a goal of mine to lift that Grand Slam trophy. This is a setback, but as well a motivation.

Q. How difficult is it to play someone like Linda, who can beat you a lot with different tools? You don't really know what's coming because she can hit the ball so hard and can play spins? What is it like to go up against someone like that?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, she's very unpredictable. She has very good serve, especially today. I really couldn't read where she's going to serve, and it made it really tough for me.

I think she was playing really brave and she was going for it. Was worth it for her. Yeah, she's a calm fighter. Like, she'll go after every point, she fight every point, so she's really competitive. It's definitely tough to play her on any surface.

Q. In terms of emotions, how are you feeling now compared to how you felt after the French Open final in 2023?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Hmmm... I don't remember too well how I felt. But definitely sad, and I'm feeling sad as well now, disappointed. So I would say probably similar. I don't want to say it's similar matches, but three-setters. I felt I had some chances, I could take it on my side, and I didn't.

Yeah, definitely disappointed.