CHINA OPEN

October 6, 2026

Karolina Muchova

Mixed Zone

K. MUCHOVA/N. Osaka

7-5, 1-6, 7-6

Q. The match points, mentally why does it feel more difficult like the first one or the ninth one? Your perspective on that.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I'd say that every match point was difficult. I was just trying to play it out. Even it was two, three match points, when she played really great, I'm like I'm going to try to go for it a little bit more. Didn't work out.

I didn't know it was my eight match points. I knew I had few. I was like, C'mon, this one. It's not like I really have it in the head. All of them were kind of same tough for me.

Q. At times Naomi likes to develop the game on her backhand. Down the stretch your backhand held up for you pretty well. Curious about your backhand, how pleased you were with it, especially towards the end?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I think I was solid from the backhand side today. I feel like all the players are hitting to my backhand side.

But I'd say it was a shot that won the match for me today.

Q. Overall your assessment of your own game today? A bit of a roller coaster really.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, definitely. I mean, this is the third time we play this season. Every time we play, it's really tough match. I'd say I got a bit lucky today. Could really go either way. In the tiebreaker in the third set, one point, two points difference at the end. Really close match.

Yeah, I was luckier one today.

Q. Looking ahead to the next round, how are you feeling about your game?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: The good thing is we have always a day off here. This was definitely physically a very tough match. I'll just try to recover well tomorrow, then reset for another one.

Q. Looking ahead on those matches, first if you could look at possibly Bartunkova and a guaranteed Czech in the semifinals. Separately, if you could look at Kraus, how much you know about her.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I'm honestly not really looking ahead yet. I'm not surprised it could be a Czech match. It's on every tournament, in all the rounds you can play a Czech player. It's not really surprising anymore, I would say.

But yeah, both of them young, really good players. I played Kraus at the Open I think. Was really tough match. I never played Niki. She is a crafty player. Both of them definitely going to be tough battle.

Q. Have you been able to explore Beijing at all? Are you just chilling at the hotel resting? What has the week been like for you in the city?

KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Didn't really have time for anything. Especially with the late matches that I've had, late ending of the day, not really. As well, the hotel is really nice, but the location is now a little bit further from everything. We only been to, like, one restaurant in the city. It's tough to find a time.

I'd love to see the Wall of China. I've never been there. We'll see. Maybe after the tournament I'll explore a little more.