Sounds: Muchová on what Wimbledon title taught her

One year ago, Barbora Muchová defeated Jabeur in the Wimbledon singles final to lift her first Grand Slam trophy. Returning to the All England Club this year with a small “W” tattoo on her wrist bearing the date of her triumph, the Czech is set to defend her title.

Barbora Muchová

“Becoming a Wimbledon champion taught me so many new things,” Muchová shared in an interview. “You become a target; everyone wants to beat you, so you have to learn how to play under the spotlight and under pressure – it takes some time to adjust. If you lose early, people say it was just a one-time miracle.”

Winning at Wimbledon took time to sink in, especially as it was her first major title and she wasn’t even seeded at the time. With the surprise of victory still fresh, adjusting to the new reality took even longer. Not yet 25, Muchová didn’t feel any different after her triumph, but she sensed others were viewing her in a whole new, unsettling light.

“To deal with raised expectations and the challenge from other players, I started seeking some calmness,” she explained. “When people talk about it, I have to step back and keep my head clear.”

“You need great people around you in training, and I got back on court quickly after Wimbledon because I wanted to get back to the tour. There were a lot of celebrations in the Czech Republic after last year’s win, but I’m not that kind of person. I wanted to show people that winning Wimbledon wasn’t a fluke, and then I reached the US Open quarterfinals, proving I could perform under pressure.”

Reflecting on her championship run at last year’s Wimbledon, Muchová said, “I was playing well in Berlin before Wimbledon, but I never expected to win. I had a tough draw, but once I started beating some strong opponents, I thought, maybe this time it could be different. I focused on each match until I made it to the second week. It was only in the semifinals that I felt real pressure for the first time.”

A significant shift last summer was Muchová’s improved movement on grass. “Compared to other surfaces, I always felt I moved poorly on grass. But I tried to improve my movement, and then something clicked – I felt like I figured it out.”

“I could run on grass, and it felt really good, just like on other surfaces. But to be honest, I was still surprised by all of it and winning Wimbledon.”