Karolina Muchova press conference following her win against Jessica Pegula in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open.
Question :
Karolina, if you would, your thoughts on the match?
Karolina Muchova :
A very tough match. I felt like I started pretty good. I felt like I played in a flow, like everything was going in accord. I as well felt that she was a little nervous. I think I started great in the first set, but it was going actually kind of easy and I knew that it's not going to go like that all the time. So I tried to still be there and move my legs and keep the tempo. But then one point when I had a break point for 3-0 off the volley, I missed that one and I felt like it kind of changed. And she picked it up and she started to play really solid. I missed again a few points, but then it kind of turned around and it was tough to make a point against her. She was everywhere, didn't do many mistakes and she played really great and so credits to her.
Question :
In terms of the shift in the match, how much of that, because obviously the points were shorter in the first set and early in the second and as the match went on it seemed like it became more of a grind. Why do you think that happened?
Muchova :
I think I started to be a little less aggressive and on the other hand she started to play way better with the match. The balls had better depth so it was tough for me to get on the net and to play these aggressive points. It was really tough to keep that level all the time and I'm lucky I didn't keep it all the time. Then it was a battle and I felt like I was getting more and more slower and she was still there. She was getting faster so then she beat me.
Question :
When you went off at the end of the second set, was that to do with a bug? Was that a physical thing?
Muchova :
No, I went to change. I was pretty sweaty so I went to change my clothes. I felt okay.
Question :
Can you look at this tournament in some ways, tough night tonight, but can you look at it overall as a victory? You're healthy, you finished this tournament last year with a serious injury, around for such a long time. So big picture wise, the way you played, the way you feel, must be a lot of positives.
Muchova :
Yeah, for sure it's a lot of positives. I just lost before half an hour so I'm a little bit... Of course now I'm not thinking that much about positives but for sure to even get to the semis and to feel that my game is there, that I can compete against the best, I can win against them. It's something that I didn't know when it will come back to me and I feel I'm playing good level. As you mentioned, I'm healthy and I can play more tournaments this year and that's actually the most important thing.
Question :
Karolina, congrats. Giddy Nathan, Defector Media. When you're really in the zone, your game can look so effortless. I'm wondering what it takes for you mentally to remain in the kind of mental space that lets you play that way.
Muchova :
To stay in that space? I didn't get it.
Question :
When you're producing your most effortless flowing tennis, how do you kind of stay locked in in the mental space that lets you play that way?
Muchova :
Well, I just try to focus on the next point. Try to keep basic stuff like breathing, next point, the routines that I have on the court and just be in the moment basically. It didn't work today, but it's just good to get through these matches and get the experience from it and learn from it for the next match like this, what I can do better and how I can improve. So I'll just try to learn.
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