ROLAND GARROS

June 10, 2021

Barbora Krejcikova

Press Conference

B. KREJCIKOVA/M. Sakkari

7-5, 4-6, 9-7

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Following the match Lindsay Davenport said you could be the strongest, mentally toughest player she ever witnessed. What guided you through a difficult third set where you could have lost the plot?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I wasn't thinking about it like this. I mean, it was really tough match. Maria, she's really good. She's really good player. I know that she's a very good fighter. She was playing really well today.

I actually think we both deserve to win because we play really, really great match. But only one can win. I'm really happy that it's me, that I'm going to have another chance to play another match.

I think the match was really up and down. I just told myself, Just fight, fight, fight until the last point. I'm happy that I was really fighting.

Q. You made mention of Jana at the end. Through that match, could you feel her guiding you, the support? Was that inspiring you in the crucial times, nerve-wracking times?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, to be honest, when I'm on court I only think about tennis. I don't really think about anything else. So I was just thinking about tennis. I was just thinking about next ball, thinking where she's going to serve, where I should serve, what shot should I play, where should I place the ball. I don't really think about the things from, like, outside. It's something actually she learn me. I just try to do that.

Like every time before the match or after the match I just feel like she's there, she's looking after me.

Q. About the match points you were denied, a forehand a little long. The referee called the ball in. In reality Hawk-Eye showed it was out. You could have lost your match on this moment. I would like you to tell us how did you live it? What do you feel about this rule with no Hawk-Eye on clay?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I don't know. No Hawk-Eye on clay, it's difficult. I mean, sometimes it's help, sometimes it doesn't. I don't know. It's very difficult.

At that moment I was just like, Well, it's out, but what can you do? The chair umpire, he has seen it as in. What can I do? I cannot do anything about it. I cannot call anyone, change his decision.

I was like, Okay, well... It's fine. Doesn't matter. Just let's go. Because it was replay the point, just let's try to win the next one. I kind of, like, got relieved that it's over. They called it. He came. He's like, No, it's in. I'm like, No, no, no.

You just have to put everything together and just keep working, next one, next one, next one. I mean, as I said on the court, even if I lost this match, I think I just wasn't able to do anything different, anything more. I would be still very proud of myself, what I actually did, how I played.

Q. What are the main emotions you're feeling, if it's satisfaction, relief, excitement? Does everything feel like it's happening fast? At this tournament last year you were outside the top hundred when you arrived. Now you're in a final of a Grand Slam. Does it feel like it's fast or something you're ready for?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, I always wanted to play matches like this. I always wanted to play tournaments like this, big tournaments, big opponents, last rounds. It was always something that I wanted to achieve. It was just taking so long.

It just took me some time, but I think right now it's actually right moment. Especially mentally I think I'm just there. I really matured. I just really appreciate things a lot, especially after what I've gone through, also with this pandemic and everything.

I don't really know what I think (smiling). I'm just full of emotions right now. It's really hard to explain it because it's English, it's not my first language. It's extremely hard to describe what I'm feeling right now.

I'm playing doubles tomorrow. I'm having singles later. I want to do my best tomorrow so I can be in two Grand Slam finals. That would be really nice. When I just finish here, I just really have to prepare for tomorrow. That's what I'm actually looking for right now. After that I'm just going to figure out what I'm going to do during the finals and how I'm going to feel.

Q. A clarification. Did you hear or see a line judge call that shot by Sakkari out?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Yeah. She said 'out'. Somebody said 'out'.

Q. A longer-view question. Can you recall the first time you might have imagined winning a Grand Slam? When did it seem like something achievable or realistic in singles?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, when I was a kid, I actually grew up in a little city where we didn't have like pro coaches or something. I was never thinking that I'm actually going to play pro. I was always just having fun. I just went on the court, I really liked playing. I was practicing. I just like it. I was never forced to actually go and practice, this is going to be your career, no.

I think later on, actually later on when I was like 16, 17, playing like the junior ITFs, then I was thinking, Well, maybe I can actually have a career like this. That would be really nice because I really love tennis.

Then, I mean, I never imagined that I'm going to be actually a Grand Slam finalist. I don't know. I don't know. It sounds, I mean, incredible. But it just sounds that I can't really believe it. I cannot believe it. Yeah, I cannot believe it it's actually happening. I cannot believe it.

Q. Can you look ahead to the final, playing Anastasia?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I don't really know because I just finished. I had a really tough match. I was just fighting. Tomorrow I really have to focus to play my doubles well. I mean, it's just hard. It's just hard to look who is there.

Anastasia, she's really good player, really experienced. She's in a final, so she must be on a roll, playing well. I didn't really have a chance to watch the match today because I was more preparing for my match.

I just think it's going to be a lot of fun. I'm just really going to enjoy it because I was never expecting to actually be this far during this tournament. I'm just going to have fun and just going to enjoy and fight until the end.