STUTTGART, Germany - Karolina Pliskova joins the WTA Insider Podcast to recap her successful week at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, which saw the powerful Czech reign down 52 aces en route to her first title in 2018. After earning her first Top 5 win over Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinals, Pliskova defeated CoCo Vandeweghe 7-6(2), 6-4 on Sunday to lift her 10th career title. 

Read more: Pliskova holds off Vandeweghe in Stuttgart

"I think it’s huge for me because I did some work, but not always after you do some good work do you get rewarded immediately with a title," Pliskova told reporters after the match. " So, I didn’t think it’s going to be that easy or that quick that I’m going to win a title.

"I’m happy with the work I did before the tournaments, before Fed Cup. Fed Cup, it was only a bonus I got one win here which also gave me some confidence to beat Angie (Kerber) here. Then, maybe even the loss which I got from Julia (Goerges) it kind of helped me just to stay ready and motivated and not to think that everything is going to be on my side, everything is going to be easy. So, I was ready for the week even though I feel super tired now.

"I think it was a great week with a lot of tough matches. I just stayed there mentally which is always important. I know if I can be ready in the head that the body doesn’t matter that much. That was the case this week. I don't think I played my best tennis but it was still enough to make the title because I was motivated and I really wanted to win.

"Obviously there are a few tournaments more on clay. So, I think it was a good start but hopefully I can add some more victories on clay."

Pliskova joined the WTA Insider Podcast after her post-win media duties to reflect even more on her Stuttgart week, explain why her serve improved so much from the hard court season, and joke about how she still doesn't have her driver's license. 

Listen to Pliskova's full interview below: