Coach Krupa: Karolína Has Things Straight in Her Mind and Knows What She Wants

Karolína Plíšková has completed almost a month of practice under her new coach Tomáš Krupa, who achieved big successes with Štěpánek, Berdych or Strýcová in the past. Now he longs for great things with the current world number four, Plíšková. “I am convinced that if you work hard, the results will come,” says Krupa, who is labeled as a strict and uncompromising coach. And among journalists he is known as a man who doesn’t give virtually any interviews. Now he made an exception.

You are through one month of preparation. How satisfied are you with this spell?

We have dedicated almost three weeks to tennis, and together with the fitness training block it makes a month. I’m very satisfied and the most important thing is that Karolína remained healthy during the whole period. We have fulfilled everything we planned with the fitness coaches from Slovakia, so I’m glad it worked out so well.

What is it like to work with Karolína?

We’re in our beginnings with Karolína, but so far nobody in the team had any problem. Everything’s OK. So, it’s nice to work with her.

You are considered a strict and uncompromising coach. Do you have to apply the carrot and stick policy on Karolína as well?

I don’t know who labeled me like that (laughs). Practice is necessary, otherwise it won’t work and I don’t believe that any results can come without the work. Hard work itself doesn’t guarantee anything either, but you have good grounds and you always know that the results will come, sooner or later. At least that’s the way I see it. And I didn’t have to push Karolína into anything. It’s clear that she herself knows what she wants and she has things straight in her mind. We agree on many things.

Do you have any goals for next season?

In our team, we all have our goals, plans and dreams that we follow together. Now it’s up to us to try and fulfill them. But I’m not going to share them with you now (laughs).

Is Karolína already in her prime or does she still have some room for improvement?

I think she can still get better in some aspects of her tennis. I will try to help her with that, just like the fitness coaches (Martin Nosko and Ivan Trebatický from Slovakia – editor’s note) try to improve her physical condition and Marián Jelínek focuses on her mental readiness. 

Are you already used to women’s tennis? How big a difference is it in comparison with men’s tennis?

The difference is big. Some time ago I already had to convince myself that it’s still tennis. Whether you coach a man, a woman, or kids. I love tennis and I try to help anyone I play with. But it’s hard to get used to the women’s tennis environment.