"I feel sorry for her and I hope she’s going to get out of it": Karolina Muchova in touch with Marketa Vondrousova amid doping charge
WTASunday, 19 April 2026 at 10:00
Karolina Muchova continued her impressive run with another composed and physically demanding victory, defeating Elina Svitolina to book her place in the final at the Stuttgart Open after a tense and high-quality battle on clay.
Speaking after the match at the Stuttgart Open, Muchova praised both the atmosphere and the support she received throughout the event, while reflecting on the difficulty of the contest.
“Thank you very much. It’s incredible to play here. The crowd is always packed and it’s nice the way the people support us here,” she said in her press conference. “It was a very tough and physical match against Elina. I’m very pleased with the way I handled myself at the end of the third set when it was 4-4, getting that break, and that I was able to finish it off.”
Adjusting tactics at the net
A key feature of Muchova’s win was her proactive approach at the net, particularly after serving into Svitolina’s backhand and looking to shorten points. She explained that the tactic evolved naturally during the match.
“I thought it was working, so I was trying to do it. That’s exactly what happened in the second set,” Muchova said. “I started to play the way she likes to play, with long rallies. Then I realised I had to be more aggressive again and change the rhythm. I think that’s the way it’s good for me to play against her.”
Physical and mental demands of the week
Muchova also spoke about the strain of competing in back-to-back matches in a condensed tournament schedule, especially on clay where long rallies and sliding add extra load.
“It’s tennis, but it’s tough to play every day in these big tournaments when it’s only a week, so you play basically every day,” she said. “I try my best to recover as much as I can. But obviously I feel it. When we play over two hours and you’re sliding on clay, the body feels it. I’m trying not to think about it too much. With every match I’m gaining good physique from it as well.”
Despite the fatigue, she said she is pleased simply to still be competing. "I’m in the final, so the body feels it of course. It’s been four tough matches. I’m just glad to still be playing.”
Karolina Muchova looks to add another title after winning in Qatar and reach the top 10.
Simple routines and no superstitions
Muchova also gave insight into her off-court habits, highlighting a relaxed routine with her team during the tournament. “We go every morning with the team for a coffee. We found a nice spot here, so we always get out of this bubble and sit in the sun,” she said. “It’s been nice weather the last few days. That’s a routine I do here.”
As for superstitions, she was clear: “No, I don’t have any.”
Familiar faces and memories from home region
The Czech player reflected on her connections to the region, including memories from her junior days and familiar faces in the crowd. “It’s been a really long time ago. I think I was a junior at that time,” she said. “The borders are close, so I sometimes hear Czech people here. I met a friend from Czech who was here with Porsche, so it’s nice to see familiar faces.”
Respect for Marketa Vondrousova
Muchova was also asked about Marketa Vondrousova but declined to go into detail about her recent doping travails as she potentially faces a four year ban for missing a test. “I’m in touch with Marketa, but I don’t really want to comment on it because I don’t know any close information,” she said. “I feel sorry for her and I hope she’s going to get out of it.”
Polish support appreciated
Muchova also reacted warmly to learning about growing Polish fan support following recent results involving Iga Swiatek and now Muchova being the only one standing alongside Rybakina in the final. “No, I don’t know about it,” she said. “But it’s so nice. Another neighbour to Czech is Poland, so it’s nice that people are pulling for me, and I appreciate it a lot.”
Love of driving off court
Away from tennis, Muchova revealed she enjoys driving and values the independence it gives her. “I have a licence and I actually love to drive,” she said. “When I’m home, I drive myself. I don’t have a driver and I enjoy it.”
Final against Elena Rybakina awaits
Muchova now turns her attention to a final against Elena Rybakina, whom she expects to present a major challenge given her pedigree and past success. She spoke when the possibility was that she could face Andreeva also so she summed up both.
“Elena, you know, winning a Slam this year, obviously one of the best players, and she has won this tournament in the past, so she knows how to play here,” Muchova said.
“Either of them, very tough competitors, and I’ll definitely have to bring my A game.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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