"I would be lying if I said I’m feeling very positive," admits Muchova after her first win since March

Karolina Muchova’s 2025 season has been disrupted by new physical setbacks that have prevented her from playing tournaments consistently. Absent between Miami and Roland-Garros due to a left wrist injury, the Czech player, ranked 14th in the world, lost in three sets in the first round in Paris against Alycia Parks.

However, at the Queen’s tournament, the 2023 Roland-Garros finalist found her way back to victory, narrowly defeating Maddison Inglis (7-6, 3-6, 6-4). After her defeat in Paris, Muchova admitted she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to play in the coming weeks, as her wrist injury prevents her from using her usual two-handed backhand.

Now competing in London with a one-handed backhand, Muchova cleared the first-round hurdle and spoke about her current situation ahead of her match against Tatjana Maria for a spot in the quarterfinals.

"I felt that not playing many matches was a disadvantage for me. But I told myself that playing on grass isn’t natural for some players, and slicing is a good tactic.

"That’s why I decided to fight with a one-handed backhand and gain that experience in today’s match. Maybe it’ll help me secure even more wins.

"I would be lying if I said I’m feeling very positive. It’s very frustrating. Sometimes in my head, I think, ‘If only I could play with my two-handed backhand, it would be so much easier.’ But I try not to think about that and focus on the positives. I’m working on tactics.

"Of course, the serve is important, especially on grass. But I’m also focusing on my positioning and movement speed to make my opponents as uncomfortable as possible," Muchova told the WTA’s official website.