Team Czechia - 2
Team Italy - 0
THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, guys. Into the semifinals here. Just a quick comment from both of you on your matches today and how pleased you are to reach this stage?
TOMAS MACHAC: Well, I think today was unbelievable day for the Czech flag. I saw playing Karolina before me. She was playing unbelievable, so I said, Why not me (smiling)?
So I was just trying to play good as her, and I think I was playing great also, and we managed to win today in singles. So I was listening Karolina advice: We are not going for mixed doubles today. Just singles today. (Laughter.)
KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Thank you. Yeah, I think you did pretty great, as well (smiling). Yeah, I'll say the same. We both kept focused and played good, hold our serves, brought the good tennis.
Really glad we both won singles. We don't have to play mixed and we can focus on tomorrow again.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Tomas, you hit some really spectacular shots in your match and you played at a really high level. Do you feel it helps your overall game and confidence when those shots are coming off in the match?
TOMAS MACHAC: For me, I'm playing these kind of shots even on the practice, so for me it's like a regular shot. It's not like for the fans or something. When I'm playing these kind of shots, that's me.
So I enjoy the moment on the court, and today I was playing, there was really no mistakes on my side. If there was any small mistakes, I just tried to repair it as soon as possible. So I was playing really great today.
Q. Both of you, looking ahead to the semifinal against the USA, how are you going to prepare for the challenges of Gauff and Fritz, respectively?
KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, I mean, we just finished. I don't know. I don't want to talk for Tomas, but I'm not really thinking about tomorrow yet.
Yeah, I guess we know it's a really tough opponent. They are both amazing athletes. So I think for us, the most important is to recover as quick as possible and just get ready for tomorrow.
TOMAS MACHAC: Yeah, for me it's the same. I just try to enjoy this moment today, to, how to say, like, to think what was going on on the court. I really enjoying those victories and the moments after, so I don't focus on tomorrow yet. When I wake up, I will start to focus on USA, but today I just try to enjoy the moment and enjoy the dinner also.
Q. As a general point, do you feel it's been helpful for you to have the same conditions all through the tournament, playing in Sydney, as opposed to coming from Perth like the USA will be to play tomorrow?
KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I think that's tough to say, because we were not in Perth. I don't know what was the conditions there. But for sure, we can take it as an advantage that we played some matches on this court.
Yeah, I wasn't thinking about it, but it can be, for sure, we can take that as an advantage (smiling).
Q. Karolina, what is it about the way you play against Jasmine that you have the record that you have against her, five wins from five matches, and she's only won one set from you?
KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I think overall I always play her in a good moment. You know, maybe if I played her as a first match it wouldn't be that easy. My last match I lost against Iga, I always try to learn and focus more on the next match, try to learn from the mistakes.
I think I was more focused today. I was trying to get better than I did before. That it's her on the other side, yeah, I mean, it's tough. I think I played really great and she didn't have that much space to lead a game. I think I didn't let her play her game.
I wouldn't say it's anything about her game. It's my third match. I think I'm getting better match by match, and I had a good day today.
Q. Tomas, I know you were just saying about tomorrow you'll start to think about the United States, but to come up against Taylor Fritz, do you feel there is no real pressure on you, that he would be expected to win that match, and you can maybe play in the same level that you did tonight?
TOMAS MACHAC: Well, I try my best, of course, but I think he's one of the best players right now definitely on the hard court. So I think they know my power already, so I showed myself in Shanghai that I beat Carlos in his prime, and he was saying that also. I know I have this tennis to beat those guys.
I will try my best, and let's see what is my chances tomorrow.
Q. Karolina, I'm just curious, as the tournament has gone through and first week of the year, your level seems to be going up with each match, but obviously physicality and fatigue can kind of start to rack up with matches. How are you dealing with that? You're playing better but maybe the tank might not be as full as it was obviously a week ago. How do you see that going into the match against Coco?
KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, now we don't have a day off and we just finished. It's pretty late, so I will see how I will wake up, I guess.
But, no, I take it very positively. It's so good, especially before Melbourne is going to come, to have these tough matches. I'm playing, I'd say, almost top-10 players. And as you mentioned, I didn't play matches for two months or something like that, so it's very important for me to play them, to play the best players, to see where is my game, where is their game, and then learn from even the wins and the loss, as well, and just try to get back to where I was playing end of last year and even better.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports