THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2026

Karolina Muchova

Press Conference

K. MUCHOVA/M. Sawangkaew

6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Karolina, another nice win this afternoon. Could you just talk us through the match this afternoon, please.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I mean, it was a tough match today. Tough battle. I didn't know my opponent. That's always tricky.

I think she put up a great fight. She played really well, very deep into the court, played all those extra balls. So I had to be ready.

I'm happy I managed to break her at the very end of the second set, and then, I think at the end of the tiebreak, after that first point in the tiebreak, I think I managed to play pretty well.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. I know you talked about how it's tricky to play someone for the first time. I guess when you're preparing for an opponent like that, how much are you relying upon video, or is it a wait-and-see-type thing when you're on court? Because video is not always the same as it is on court.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, it's true, what you say. I watched her first two matches here on the video, though, to at least get the, you know, to see the way she plays, because obviously my coach told me how she plays.

She qualified, so she had great matches under her belt here. So I prepared for it that way.

Yeah, and then just tried to be focused on me. So I watched videos of her and then just made a tactic, like every other match, I'd say.

Q. You have one of the best slices on the tour.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I don't know.

Q. What's the secret to making that effective on grass?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: What's the secret to make it effective. I think you really have to, if you want to have effective slice, you really have to play, you know, hard, actually play the slice. I try to sometimes play shorter, sometimes just like a defensive slice, a little bit higher to the line to gain time.

So depends in what position, but dangerous slice, I think it needs to have the speed.

Q. Apart from you, who has the best on tour, would you say?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: You tell me. I don't know (smiling). I don't even know if I would put myself into the best.

I think Ons always had a good slice. I as well see all the other girls, I see practice sometimes, and I feel like everyone is working on their slices, yeah, the game going forward to the net. So I think everyone is improving their games.

Tough to say. I would need to see -- I'm so bad with, you know, now I can't think of anyone, but there are plenty, I think.

Q. Does three wins this week, like, how does that affect your memory of the last four years and the frustrations you have had here? Is that all gone now?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Well, until you brought it up, I didn't even think about it, honestly (smiling).

I know when I won the first match here, I was like Yes, I broke it, because I know last few years I wasn't able to get past that first round here.

But since then, I wasn't really thinking about it. I'm just glad and happy I made it now to the fourth round.

Q. I think a lot of us thought it was incredible. I mean, I know you were hurt a couple years there, but when you were healthy, a lot of people thought it was incredibly strange. A lot of people look at your game, and you have heard the word "Federer" and things like that, compared to how he played and how you play, and floating all over the court.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah.

Q. Did you think it was as strange as everyone else did that you weren't winning matches here?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Not really. You know, obviously people say stuff, and it's nice to hear some compliments about my game and all that, but I don't think the -- you know, I would have to go year by year, but obviously last year I was a little bit injured playing here, so I wasn't in my best shape.

When I came 2023, I came basically from the finals of Roland Garros. I didn't have any preparation. I had a very tough first round. The girl played really solid.

You know, tough to say. I think I had as well tough draws here. Obviously I was very sad always when I lose the first rounds here, because this is amazing tournament, and we lost here. Trying to stay in the moment now and just enjoy that I finally broke that.

Q. You were talking about your slice. It's maybe even more effective on grass. Why do you think that very few woman players use it? Because is it because the game is more powerful and more fast?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah. Now I feel with the grass being a little bit slower, I would say, than the past years, it's not that effective anymore.

But I just like to use it to prepare the point, you know, to build the point, and that's why I use the slice sometimes.

But, yeah. What was the...

Q. Why very few players use it, few players like you?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Why do I use the slice? Well, just to prepare the point, to build the point. You know, to win a point (smiling). This is why I play it.