WTA FINALS

November 10, 2021

Barbora Krejcikova

Press Conference

A. KONTAVEIT/B. Krejcikova

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Barbora, will you just give us your thoughts on the match and how you thought your performance was out there today.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, the match was difficult. I think Anett, she was playing solid game, she was serving well. I actually lost only because of the breaks.

I mean, I tried to see the positive outcome. I mean, I'm going to have another five matches that I can play, so I'm looking forward to that. I'm just going to try to enjoy the rest, even the things didn't go well today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What did you find to be particularly tricky today?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I think really the conditions, just the conditions were tricky. I mean, it was my first match, so obviously I was hoping it's going to be better. It wasn't that good. I still have a lot of matches to go.

I actually think that, yeah, it was only two breaks, one in the first, one in the second. Well, I hope I'm still going to improve with the conditions.

Yeah, I mean, it's just difficult because, yeah, couple days ago I was actually playing in Europe, now I'm here. It's really, really, really difficult.

I'm going to work with that and I hope it's going to get better and I'm going to have a better matches.

Q. Can you explain your approach, what you think about when you're in a tournament where it's not single elimination, where you didn't fly all the way over here for one match? What happens over the next 24 hours, 48 hours, to get your head back in this?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, this is the first time. I'm usually going to a tournament where I just, yeah, lose and you go home, so... I really don't know how to approach this.

I think just really try to see things positive, try to be happy that I can be here, try to enjoy it, just to be happy that I had a really good season and I can play with the best ones, just battle every single ball.

Yeah, I mean, also I have doubles here, so I'm just very looking forward to play another five matches, which is really, really good (smiling).

Q. The lesson of this pandemic is that we need each other, teamwork is vital. You play doubles. What was your biggest lesson from solitary confinement?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Say it again, please. Can you repeat it?

Q. My question is, what was your biggest lesson from the solitary confinement? You know teamwork is vital.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I'm sorry, I don't understand the question. I don't know.

THE MODERATOR: What was your lesson from quarantine? What did you learn from quarantine?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Oh, what did I learn from quarantine? Oh, okay.

Well, a lot of things. A lot of things. Where to start?

I mean, first of all, we've couldn't play any tournaments. Also back in Czech Republic we had a quarantine. We couldn't really go anywhere, we couldn't really do anything. It was kind of like a reminder that we shouldn't take anything for granted, just to enjoy every single day, just to be happy that we can be here, we can do what we love, we can play tennis.

Also from the personal side, just to be happy that we are healthy and the family around us is healthy, that we have a really, really good life. Hopefully it's going to stay like this. Yeah, hopefully the pandemic is going to be over soon and we'll just have more freedom and we'll have more free to do what we love.

Q. You've worked with a sports psychologist throughout your career. When did you start working with someone? Why did you start? What's the most important thing you learned from working with a sports psychologist? Why is that vital to your game?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I think I start quite early. I think the first time I've seen somebody was when I was 16. I was having some troubles. Actually, I don't want to talk about it. I was having some troubles. I don't really want to be clear about it.

But I think so far it really -- I think it really, like, helped me to understand the way why the things are like what they are, what maybe other people are thinking, what their opinion is and stuff, and why is it different, why people see things different.

Also for myself, you know, we've been working a lot how to handle the situations on court, how to handle a lot of situations off the court, when things are going good, when things are going bad, just how to handle everything.

Yeah, right now it's a lot of media stuff, a lot of people are reading a lot of things, and they are just making a picture on you. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad.

Yeah, I mean, if it's bad, it's really, really difficult to actually handle it. So we are working on that (smiling).

Q. Is a psychologist a vital part of a player's team now?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, for me, I'm happy that I have one, that I'm working with somebody. For me it's important. I mean, for the other players, I don't know. I cannot say.

Q. I want to know how you feel physically after this game in the altitude? How are you going to be physically for tomorrow's doubles against a Mexican Giuliana Olmos?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I feel okay. I feel good. I've been feeling worse during the season, so I think I'm handling the physical side quite well. I'm trying to stay fresh and I'm trying to do everything I can to recover as fast as I can.

I'm actually really happy I can play these two competitions and that I can play one day singles and one day doubles because I just think it's a good thing for me, it's a really good experience. I just have more time and more opportunities to adapt better and to play better tennis.

I'm just really looking forward that we going to play tomorrow. It's going to be really special to play with my partner. Yeah, I can't wait.