Known for her elegant, stylish strokes and her deft touch, Czechia’s Karolina Muchova has established herself as a human highlight reel on the WTA Tour. Google “Muchova Shot of the Year” and you’ll likely be fed more than a few stunning clips by the algo. 

But the 28-year-old isn’t all style, no substance. The former World No. 8 is also a dedicated professional who has skillfully worked her way back from a career-threatening wrist surgery to take her place at No. 15 in the WTA rankings, less than nine months after her return from rehab. 

BNPParibasOpen.com talked to the former Roland-Garros finalist Muchova about her restorative powers, her love of all sports as a child, and why she can’t see herself playing tennis without a strong net presence.

What’s the secret to coming back to form so quickly after wrist surgery? 

I went through a few more injuries in the past, so when I got to the point where they told me it’s not gonna get better and I would need surgery, I just started to focus on what I could do. 

Next came surgery. I’m gonna have six weeks of rest. You can [still] sleep well and eat well, I was always focused on something that I could improve, each step, and how to improve every phase. 

I tried to have the best recovery possible, and yes, it was a pretty long time but I just believed that it would turn out good, I trusted all the people – the doctors and physios that I had around me. 

What was it like in the early days of recovery?

When you have a surgery there are some better days and some worse days. To gain trust it takes some time. It was up and down, but I’m not the type of player that needs to practice like seven hours a day anyway, so I think I picked it up pretty fast, then I was so looking forward to playing again, I was so happy to play, that for sure helped me to perform better. 

Your dad being a professional footballer, and you playing other sports as a kid, did that influence the way you approach your tennis? 

I think so. I think that because I did so many sports and so many different movements that it kind of gave me the athleticism. I would say I have pretty solid movement. We warm up with the [soccer ball], the NFL football. I like all the sports, so for sure in my opinion I would say it helps me, especially with movement on the tennis court. 

With my dad playing football of course we did everything when I was a kid. We did all the sports, he was bringing me everywhere.

You were asked by TV network Canal + to build the perfect player, and you chose your own volley as one of the shots. What do you like about your own volley, and would you have difficulty playing tennis without coming to the net? 

I think it’s a big part of my game, to play volleys, to shorten rallies. When I see players lengthening the points, I don’t want to play the long rallies. I feel pretty comfortable at the net. It’s a big part of [my game]. I like to be there, I like to play volleys and finish the points at the net, so I can’t imagine my game without it. 

You said Iga Swiatek has the best mentality in tennis. What about Iga’s mentality sticks out to you? 

She plays from the first point until the last point she goes like 150 percent intensity so that’s for sure that’s what I like about her. 

How does experience help you as a player these days? 

Everything is about experience, to go through those phases of tennis life, and the matches, there are tough losses. It’s a circle, the tennis life, and I think the experience, especially on the tennis court – if I play some younger players or upcoming players – I can rely on some things, I know when to play [certain shots] and I just bring it.