Muchova explains the key to her return to the elite: "I know my body and I know when to stop"

Karolina Muchova faces the WTA Finals after completing a great season, regaining her place in the top 10, and securing one of the eight spots that grant access to the Masters tournament. The Czech player arrives in Indian Wells with renewed energy after making an unusual decision at the end of the calendar: to forgo competition to prioritize rest.

A gamble that, as she explained during Media Day, turned out to be essential to arrive in good condition for this last event of the year. "I'm very happy to have made it to the top eight this season. I think it shows that my team and I have done a great job. At the beginning of the year, I didn’t expect to achieve this, but during the second half, I started to see it as a possibility, although I never obsessed over it."

The importance of listening to the body

After Wuhan, Muchova decided not to compete in any more tournaments, even though her qualification was not yet assured. A sign of maturity that reflects the experiences accumulated during her years on the circuit.

"I felt that my energy was depleted. The season had been very long, and I thought that playing more tournaments wouldn't do me any good. If I managed to qualify, I would be very happy; if not, it would mean that another player deserved it. I needed to rest and recover my strength," the Czech evaluates from experience.

"Experience has taught me to know my body and to understand when I can't push myself any further. It's okay to push yourself to the limit, but doing it excessively can be counterproductive. For my career, health has always been fundamental," notes the woman who will face Aryna Sabalenka next Monday.

"I believe that what works best is my ability to change the game, especially with rhythms and slice shots, but I've also seen that she has improved a lot in those aspects. It's going to be a different match because it has been a while since we last faced each other," warns the current world number 7.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Muchova explica la clave de su regreso a la élite: "Conozco mi cuerpo y sé cuándo parar"