At Wimbledon, Marie Bouzková benefits from pleasant memories of the previous two years, and she also benefited from positive energy in today’s 1st round match, in which she clearly defeated Argentina’s Julia Riera 6:1, 6:2. She told Czech journalists that she first had to “read” her opponent and then managed to push her game. She is now led by coach Jiří Novák, with whom she has agreed on a trial period.
“I’m glad that I managed the match in two sets. The beginning was more difficult, I had break points against me right away, but I held on. Then things developed well and I tried to push my game,” said the 25-year-old Bouzková. “I didn’t know my opponent very well and first I had to figure out what she was playing. She played a lot of clay tennis with a lifted forehand,” added the Czech tennis player.
Bouzková advanced from the opening round at Wimbledon for the third time in a row. Last year, she lost in the round of 16 to eventual winner Markéta Vondroušová. She reached the quarterfinals the year before, which is still her career-best Grand Slam result.
“It’s a nice feeling to come back here every year, to have nice experiences and memories. It obviously helps me that I did well here before, and I like playing here.” noted Bouzková.
A new coach is helping her at the third Grand Slam tournament of the season. After she ended her collaboration with the Spaniard Conchita Martínez in March, she is now led by former player and semi-finalist of the Australian Open Jiří Novák.
“We got together for a trial period before the grass season. I’ve known Jirka since I was a child. I’ve been training with him since I was thirteen, when we were in Florida. I know his whole family, I grew up with his children. It’s a very friendly relationship. I went to see him even to Prostějov, I lived in the house with them. We also had houses not far from each other,” he said. added Bouzková.
