THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 26, 2021

Barbora Krejcikova

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What has the period been like after Roland Garros until now? Any of the things you've experienced since, have they taken you by surprise?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: So I went back to Czech Republic. I visit my family. I spent some time with them and also with my friends back home. I think that there have been a lot of surprises actually, a lot of things that were different, a lot of people wanted to see me, talk to me, have a signature, picture, which is not that common. I guess it never happened to me.

So far I felt that I was actually handling all of it quite well. After some time off, I just went back to practice, so... Now I'm here (smiling).

Q. Many players say after they win their first major, it's not only that other people think of them differently, they think differently of themselves in terms of their confidence when they step on the court. How do you think things will be different for you when you step on the court?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I think it's going to be same. I don't think that I have, like, extra confidence. I just take it as it is. I mean, it's very nice that I was actually able to make my dream come true, but also on the other hand there are so many other girls that are playing so well.

I just have to come back on the ground. I just have to work hard again, just try to improve because otherwise I won't be playing these tournaments and I won't be playing these players for upcoming years. If I stop, I'm just not going to be good enough any more.

I mean, I feel that people see me differently. I think that they have maybe higher expectations and everything. But for me right now I just feel that I shouldn't put any pressure on myself any more. I've pretty much achieved everything that I've always wanted.

Right now the only goal for me is to really enjoy tennis, enjoy and just try to improve every time I step on the court, try to learn things.

Q. It's pretty rare for somebody to be giving a pretournament press conference in the main interview room without having played a singles main draw match at Wimbledon, which you'll be doing this year. Can you give us an idea of your comfort level on clay in your singles game? What do you, not expect from yourself this week, but what should we expect in terms of your comfort on the surface?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I think you can actually see that I feel actually quite nervous. My voice is, like, I cannot really put the good words together because all of this is very new and all of this is really exciting and special. Also, like, it's stressful (laughter). I didn't expect this to happen. Now I'm here.

About this tournament and playing for the first time, not really having experience, switching fast from clay to grass, all of this is new, all of this is different. Play on clay, I grew up on clay, so I like to play on clay. I didn't really have that many matches playing on grass. I've never played here the main draw. Everything is new.

But I just try to have fun. I just try to enjoy it. I just try to, as I said, improve. I just feel that so far I really don't know what to do on grass yet. I just feel that I don't really know how to use my shot. I still have some time to find out.

For sure when I'm going to go there on court, maybe things will not go well for me, I'm just going to go and fight. I know how to fight. I'm ready for it.

Like when I was back in Czech Republic, I had some time to rest, to recharge again. Right now I'm ready. For me, doesn't really matter if I'm going to play well or I'm not going to play well. For me the most important thing is to improve as a tennis player but also as a person. I know if I'm going to fight and do everything that I can, especially mentally, it's going to be victory for me.

Q. A lot of the players after they've had a big breakthrough, they say only someone else who has been through that can actually relate and help them. Is there anyone that you've reached out to, any past champions? Is there someone you would like to reach out to for advice on how to handle this period?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I used to work with Jana Novotna, so I learned a lot of things from her. She was actually here three times in the finals. The last time, the third time, she won it. She had really a lot of experience. We were talking about it a lot because I like these stories. I just remember a lot from it.

Right now I just try to take this experience that I have, I just try to put it right now. But I spoke with other people. I spoke with Martina Navratilova, another Czech American. She speaks Czech, so we speak Czech. I spoke with Mr. Korda, another Czech former player. I will a chance to also speak to other players.

So far I think also my coach is helping me, that he's like mentally really good guiding light. He just told me that I shouldn't expect that I'm going to win every single tournament from now on, so I don't expect it. I'm just realistic person. I know that maybe it's not going to be good again, maybe I'm just not going to do well right now.

I think with the hard work and with the spirit of constantly trying to improve, I'm just going to come back at some moment. Maybe I'm still going to continue, I'm still going to play well here, maybe not.

I just don't try to put so much weight on it. I'm just still enjoying that actually I was able to win a slam in singles. That was something I always wanted. I never really said it out loud because I didn't expect it. Also I didn't want to put extra pressure on myself.

Now it happened, so I'm still enjoying that. That's how I approach the time right now.

Q. When you say you spoke with Martina, would you like to share what is the main message you got from her?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: She just told me that she's very happy. She pretty much just told me just go and enjoy, just have fun. Now is the time where it's the time to just have fun again, just continue like doing the things that you love and that work for you. I mean, I think that's the most important thing.