(Reuters) – Karolina Muchova does not consider her inventive brand of tennis unique but the Czech said it allows her to have a lot more fun on the court as opposed to blasting away from the baseline more commonly seen in the modern game.
Muchova has captured the imagination of fans at the U.S. Open with her creative, all-court style and used it to full effect to beat French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-3 and reach the quarter-finals on Monday.
“I can’t tell if it’s unique, but I just like to change it up. I like to do what I do, basically going to the net and play a game. Have more fun; not just grind back and play forehands and backhands,” Muchova told reporters.
“It’s how I see the game. It’s how I like to play it. It’s the things that I like to as well improve in practice and then bring it on the court.”
Muchova’s approach prompted 18-times Grand Slam winner Chris Evert to remark during commentary in an earlier contest that the Czech “plays like a guy” before the American apologised for her comment following sharp criticism from players online.
“The guys have bigger serves than the women,” Evert had explained. “They have better volleys for the most part, they move a little bit better.”
Muchova, who is finding her touch again this season after 10 months out with a wrist issue, said she was happy to buck modern trends in the women’s game and revealed she is also not overly reliant on data to analyse her opponents.
“I just usually just look at the matches they played at that tournament to see few things, but I think these days and against these opponents and girls it’s tough to find any weakness,” said Muchova, who plays Beatriz Haddad Maia next.
“Every day is different, and so I try to be in that game and spot in the first few games, what could work and bring it right away on the court.
“I also play a lot with how I feel on the court and what I feel to play. So tactically, yeah, but then, when the match is progressing, I just trying to play by feeling.”
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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