Karolina Muchova “nearly forgot winning feeling” before ending title drought in Doha

DOHA, Qatar—It is a testament to Karolina Muchova’s immense talent that her single WTA title is one of the last things fans or media discuss.

Still, Muchova confessed her title drought—which takes back to the 2019 Korea Open—had been weighing on her after four straight runner-up finishes, which gave her Qatar TotalEnergies Open victory on Saturday added significance.

“I would say I nearly forgot the winning feeling, because it's been really quite a while,” Muchova confessed after defeating Victoria Mboko, 6-4, 7-5 in the final. “To get reminded of it, actually, I was pretty nervous before the match. I'm like, ‘Okay, how am I going to deal with it, how am I going to manage it.’ And then when you actually make it, and I dealt with that pressure I think very good in today's match, I was just relieved, and the intensity of the feeling of winning, it's just so nice.”

Famed for her natural, free-flowing game, Muchova has featured in the late stages of some of the biggest tournaments since winning that title in 2019, reaching back-to-back US Open semifinals in 2023-2024 and the finals of 2023 Roland Garros. In between, she has often dealt with injuries that leave her sidelined for long stretches and likely prevented her from winning another title sooner.

Last time I played [a final] I really thought I played good that week, and then I lost pretty easily,” she said of a 2024 China Open defeat to Coco Gauff. “So I'm like, then you question yourself a little bit. Like, ‘Can I do it?’ Because, you know, obviously I hear it all around. Everyone's like saying I only have one title.

“It's not that I would take it personally, or that it would describe my tennis or me as a person, but I really wanted to prove that to myself that I still have it in me and that I can win. So, I would say I was just very proud how I handled myself today.”

Fit and healthy to start the 2026 season, Muchova is projected to jump to No. 11 in the WTA rankings after her winning week in Doha, three spots below her career-high of No. 8. But the 29-year-old will have little time to celebrate with the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships looming next week.

“In tennis everything goes so fast,” said Muchova. “I think sometimes we forget to stop and reflect on the good weeks, or small wins, big wins. My next tournament starts tomorrow! So, it's really tough. But I would just like to stop for a little bit and enjoy it with my team, and just go somewhere tonight with them and have a good time and maybe reflect a little more.”

That celebration will feature at least one thing in particular. 🍔

“We said with the team that after we are done here that we are going to get burgers together. So I'm starving,” she said with a laugh, “and I kind of look forward to go with them and have a burger and celebrate a little bit.”