Karolína Muchová is the 29-year old Czech tennis player with a current WTA ranking of 19, and the love of a whole country behind her. She now lives in Prague, and started playing tennis at age seven with her dad, who is a former professional footballer in Czechia.
She started playing professionally on the ITF Circuit in Croatia in 2013, and has had a career high ranking of No 8 in the world, is a former Roland-Garros runner-up and has made it to the semi-finals of the US Open and the Australian Open.
We caught up with the charming Muchová in Melbourne at the Australian Open after she won the 3rd round match against her Polish opponent Magda Linette 6-1 6-1. She dominated the court over the 1 hour and 3 minutes and is now set to meet American Coco Gauff in the 4th round in the Margaret Court Arena, on what is likely to be quite a hot day.
Naturally we wanted to find out what’s her favourite tune to play on the guitar, and if she really does just come down under for the flat whites.
You’re sitting at the top of this whole wave of Czech tennis superstars and you seem to have a huge fanbase where you live in Prague, and you’ve had some fun sponsorship deals over there with brands like Porsche. There are quite a few Czech supporters here in the crowd at Melbourne, but can you feel all the love from back home? How much are you loving living in Prague?
Karolína Muchová I moved to Prague maybe six years ago, so I’m not from Prague, but yes I’ve lived in quite a few spots, so it’s nice to explore the city and call it home. For me, honestly, summertime in Prague is the best thing in the world. You have everything- nice restaurants, its safe,
we have a river.. we’re just missing a beach. That is the only thing I would add otherwise it’s perfect, I love it.
Most of my friends are there now, so I love the nights out, and just chilling around the city. I have a few friends here, who have travelled with me to Australia to support me during the Open, which is fantastic.
We know you’re into guitar. What kind of music are you into? And do you play often yourself?
Yes, I play myself.
Are you in a band or anything?
No, no.
Maybe that could be another career after tennis!
Did you start playing when you were young?
I started actually pretty late. It happened when I was a kid, and I was going to an artist school – I was drawing and doing all this stuff, and the people next door, people were – you know – on the piano and guitars. I was always begging my Mom to switch the classes. But she didn’t let me- she was very much like – we got you into this artsy school so you’re gonna do that! So, I didn’t start when I was young but I always felt like I really wanted to play instruments. Later on, when I start to make my own money in tennis , I decided- OK – now I can buy my guitar and just learn myself!
That’s cool. How did it go once you started?
I was just chilling at home one day and I thought its the time to try it. I felt like I could do it pretty easily, and I learned pretty fast. It’s like everything in life, when you improve, it’s like with , if you do something a bit better every day, you play the chords, and it’s more smooth and all that, it feels great and you keep going. I found I could start playing songs and sing to them a little bit, even though I don’t really like to sing too much! Playing guitar is something that I love to do, and that I can get lost in. It can be three hours, and I’m like – Oh- where did the time go- it’s nice.
People always want guitarists to play at gatherings. What’s your go-to party piece?
I have a small piano at home, and I always play Let it Be by The Beatles, because it’s very easy and simple.
For some reason the only thing we at Irresistible can play off the top of our heads on the piano is the theme tune from an 80s TV show called Moonlighting- we don’t really know why.
On guitar I’d say the song I can always remember how to play is probably a Sweet Home Alabama. It’s a nice riff.
It sounds like you really might be in a band one day?
You never know.
You never know. If I did I would try to dive in deep, for sure.
Rublev told us that he sometimes thinks tennis and music are the same thing. What do you think about that?
I guess for me maybe it’s more about the beats and the rhythm. I feel like music always gets to you. If you’re sad, you can listen to sad songs, and it always gets you more in the mood of the moment, I’d say. For tennis, if I want to be pumped up, I’ll put on something faster.
It’s definitely something that I use to reflect where my mood is on the day.
You played United Cup last year, Brisbane International just a few weeks ago, and you’ve played in five Australian Opens. What do you love about coming down to Australia? Is there something you look forward to?
Yes, for sure. Flat whites! As well, it’s -10 degrees in Prague right now, and it’s 30 degrees here, so that’s definitely a good difference! I feel as well that the people are so nice, and everything is warm and friendly. It’s just nice to come from such a cold winter, and it’s getting dark by 4 p.m. at the moment in Prague, and here you can enjoy the life outside. I definitely like waking up in the morning and going for a coffee in the city. I do that every day here. There are nice restaurants, and I like going to the beach. Brisbane was amazing, actually. I haven’t been there for quite a while, and I have a friend who lives there now, so I got to explore it a little bit better, and it was amazing.
