THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2026

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

K. MUCHOVA/B. Krejcikova

7-5, 5-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Karolina, another nice win. Through to the quarterfinals. You must be delighted.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I am. It was very tough battle out there today. Happy I managed to still produce quality game in the third set after the second that I had a big lead there. Yeah, I'm very pleased.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Talking about that second set when you were 5-2 up, you had to try to close out the match, talk tactically and mentally how you reset after losing that second set.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I just was trying to not think of it. Just really focused on the moment. I still felt good. I knew that, I could see it, she started to hit really freely when I was 5-2 up. She played some good points. Then I don't think I did too many bad decisions there. She just really went for it.

As I said on the court, she deserved the second set.

I was just trying to start good with my serve, be still aggressive, go for my points, and then try to focus more on my serving in the third.

Q. It's tough to believe you guys haven't crossed, three times, I think, against Barbora. Why do you think she's such a tough opponent on grass? How do you think you solved that problem today?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Well, she is quality player. She's a Wimbledon champion. She can use all the right weapons against you. I think she reads and sees the game really well on all the surfaces, not just the grass.

But it makes it definitely more tricky with these bounces, with her slice, how deep she plays in the court. All these factors of her game, yeah, that makes it very tough.

Q. Half a year working with Sven. I'm curious, what do you think he brought to your game?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: What he brought to my game? I mean, he brought a lot of - I forgot the word - a lot of experience. He brought a lot of good energy, positive energy. Yeah, a lot of things. I could talk here for a few minutes what he brought, so...

He brought a lot of good things.

Q. In your main draw appearances at Wimbledon, you've either been to the quarterfinals or have been out in round one. Why do you think that is?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: That's a good point (smiling).

Q. What is it about grass court tennis that makes it so unpredictable?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Why that is? I think those years, these one and two years, I played really good, that's why I get to quarters. Those years where I lost first round, I didn't. It's pretty simple (smiling).

But yeah, the grass is very specific. I think we did a great decision that I played two tournaments before Wimbledon so I get few more matches to feel better on the grass.

Every match gives you something. You can never get it in a practice, I would say so. This year we, Let's play matches and gain that confidence in the match.

I think that was a great decision. Yeah, that's about it.

Q. When did you become aware when you were a child of the sort of great tradition of great Czech female tennis players? How did it affect you? Which ones have had the most influence on you?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I have no idea. Like, as a kid, I was never really brought up to play tennis. It's not like my parents told me, You're going to play tennis, like it's in most of the cases.

When I was a kid, I think I figured out what is a Grand Slam when I was a teenager. I didn't really follow up much. But obviously as I got older and I looked back on all the great results from our Czech legends, it's honestly crazy how many Czech girls were able to win here.

I think they all play kind of differently, which is nice about it. Yeah, we have a lot of players. Even now in the fourth round, we have four Czech players. This year we just have, as you said, a great tradition in tennis overall.

Q. Any particular ones that stand out?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I cross here Martina Navratilova. I definitely sometimes watch her matches. Was definitely different time, different game. It was nice to see every ball to play serve and volley, all that. She definitely is one of the greatest legends.

Q. You always seem very calm and controlled on the court. When you go through a situation of losing the second set, does that help you to come back and not get too down on yourself?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I think today I was pretty positive. Really depends on the day.

Again, I think I played great - even in that second set. She just leveled up a bit and took that one. I was not really putting myself under a lot of pressure like that I started to make unforced errors or anything like that.

I could still see I just need to win, basically. She's not going to give it to you. In those crucial moments on those break points, I was just telling myself, Okay, I have to play the ball and I have to win the ball, not just put it because she's going to take it.

Yeah, I was just being positive, I would say today, and that helped definitely through that third set.

Q. A year ago here you were struggling physically. It was a tough time with your wrist. Even back then, did you know you would be able to get back to this level and come back stronger?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: When?

Q. Last year here you were struggling physically. Back then, were you sure you would be able to come back at this level or even better?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I was not sure. You're never sure, I think, about anything. I definitely believed I can get back and I can find a good level of my tennis. I always have that belief in myself.