WTA FINALS

November 17, 2021

Barbora Krejcikova

Katerina Siniakova

Press Conference

KREJCIKOVA-SINIAKOVA/Hsieh-Mertens

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Barbora and Katerina, talk us through your thoughts on the match, how excited you were to receive the trophy today from Martina Navratilova and win the WTA Finals.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I think it was really good day for us. I think we did everything the best way we could. I was really happy that our game style was working and that everything we said was working. I just think that we were a really good team out there today.

It's very, very special to get the trophy from Martina to who we look up to. She is a really big hero for us. The whole day was just amazing. I really enjoyed it. Yeah, now holidays (laughter).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Katerina, what do you think was the key? You went undefeated throughout the week. With Barbora playing singles as well, there was a lot for you to do to help her out, have the energy.

KATERINA SINIAKOVA: I mean, yeah, I wanted to try to show my best, but I would say big thanks to Barbora because I think was really hard and she did perfect job.

It's really amazing. This week was really good for us. I think we needed to stay aggressive, and we did it. We were really playing well. We keep the team spirit, so we were just trying, we fight. I'm just really happy that we have the trophy.

Q. Katerina, you'll finish the season at No. 1, the year-end doubles No. 1. What does that accomplishment mean to you?

KATERINA SINIAKOVA: Well, I'm real excited. I think it's really special. It was big day today. I'm so happy that we managed to do it, we won, that I can finish No. 1. It's really nice. I'm so happy that I could finish the season like this.

Q. Barbora, what prompted you to make the very moving poignant speech? How aware were you of Martina's struggles back in 1975, then of the Velvet Revolution in 1989?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, when I look up today, this morning, at the Internet, I saw that everybody celebrating the 17 November. I said, Okay, it's really, really important day in our history. I think it would be really nice to actually show and remind people outside of Czech Republic that there is a big, big day for us, that we are celebrating a huge day of freedom.

I mean, I was actually preparing the speech. I was actually very, very nervous because I worried. English is not my first language. With these different words I'm not really used to, it can get tricky. I really wanted to do it well, and I hope I did.

KATERINA SINIAKOVA: You did (smiling).

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, I wasn't alive when all this happened so I cannot say that I remember much because I don't. But I remember that my parents, they were talking about it a lot, everything that was happening before in the other regime.

I'm extremely happy that we had some brave people and we had some brave students and citizens in Czech Republic, but also in Slovakia, and that now we can live in a freedom and we don't really have to be scared anymore.

Yeah, for me like knowing about Martina, meeting other great athletes that we had, they've been struggling. I was working with Jana, so she was talking about it a lot. I knowing they were struggling a lot.

I think right now it's really time to appreciate that we can travel and that we can do what we love because back then it was really tough for them.

Q. You knew Martina was crying pretty hard behind you. Did she say anything to you after or did you say anything to her?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, yes, we did, but I'm not going to say it out loud. It's only between us.

For me, Martina is really special. I'm really happy and glad I was able to meet her and that -- no, I'm not going to say it.

I'm just extremely happy that I was able to met her and that I know her and that she's helping us, all the Czech players.

Q. Barbora, on winning the same tournament that Jana Novotna already won. Katerina, talk about the partnership.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, it means lots to me because I really look up to all these legends that used to play before us. I think it's a really nice, nice thing that we have all these former great players, that some of them are still here with us and they're trying to help us. I just really appreciate it. I think it's really nice that we can do what we love and we can get really, really good tips from the best people.

Yeah, I mean, for me it's very special. I'm really happy that me and Katerina, we made a really good performance today and, yeah, we are lifting the trophy, that we going to get the trophy home and everybody's going to be happy (smiling).

Q. Katerina, what did you think of Barbora's speech?

KATERINA SINIAKOVA: I think it was amazing. I mean, she's really brave. She wanted to do it because it's really a special day for us. As Barbora said, it's really big holiday for us in Czech Republic. What happened back then, it's really, really hard. I think we should be really happy that we can have this amazing life now. Everything is going so good. Yeah, as Barbora said, I'm also really happy that I can be and I can represent Czech Republic.

Q. Barbora, can you talk briefly about some of the things Jana told you about what life was like back then, the struggles she had?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, it's really difficult to talk about it because we had a lot of topics. We spoke mainly about tennis because she didn't want me to - I don't know how to say - with my head outside of tennis.

We had some conversations where she was talking about it, but more I was actually talking about it with my parents because they've been living in this regime and they know more about it. They'd been telling me all the stories. Also getting the stories from the grandparents and stuff.

Yeah, I mean, for me representing Czech and being Czech, knowing the history, knowing how people were brave and strong, it's really a big motivation and it's really inspiring.

Yes, as I said already, I'm just really happy that they did this for us and our generation can have a better life, can have more freedom. We can just travel and do what we love which was impossible back then.