SYDNEY TENNIS CLASSIC

January 9, 2022

Barbora Krejcikova

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to Sydney. In the offseason, how did you reflect on the incredible year that you had last year?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, in the offseason, I mean, I didn't really have much time to pretty much think about things, but, yeah, I mean, what happened last year is very, very amazing. I'm really happy, and I'm pleased with the way I played and how successful I was. I mean, I was just trying during the offseason to accept what happened (smiling).

Now, yeah, I'm looking forward to playing a new season and start well here in Australia.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Welcome. How long have you been here? And since you got into Australia, what have you been doing?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I'm here since I think Tuesday. I just got here to Sydney, and, I mean, I was practicing in here. That's it (smiling).

Q. When you look ahead to 2022 and the season is just about to start, what are your dreams? What are you looking forward to?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I'm really looking forward to just playing. You know, I hope I'm going to be healthy the whole year. I think that's the most important thing.

Then, you know, just competing with the best players, playing here in Sydney, playing next week in Melbourne, you know, playing the first slam.

You know, just, yeah, just pretty much playing, just pretty much playing, enjoying that I can play on this high level. It was always my dream, so it's perfect.

Q. Last year you said was such an amazing year, not just in singles, doubles as well, with so many titles. When you go in to start a new season, what goes into your mind? Do you feel that there's a little bit more added pressure on you, or is it a case of you have achieved so much, everything else is icing?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, you know, like I would like to continue with the good results, so that's why I was trying to prepare the best way I could.

I mean, on the other hand, I mean, there is always a pressure. There has always been pressure, there is always going to be pressure.

You know, I think the most important thing is just to really go and enjoy, and that's what I'm planning to do. That's something I'm focusing on. I mean, the pressure, it's just that and it's all right.

Q. There is no favors in the way the draw has turned out for you with Belinda Bencic in the first round. What are your thoughts going into that match?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I mean, I played with Belinda last year, and it was very close match, very tight match. We know each other for a long time. We have been practicing. We have been actually practicing here, as well.

I think it's going to be interesting match. I mean, it's always good to start with a really good player, so I'm really looking forward, and yeah, I think it's going to be great match.

Q. Do you think it is actually good to get an opponent as tough as that straight off?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I think when you play tournament like this, which is really high tournament with the best players, you know, there are no easy matches anymore. It's not like, yeah, like when you play different tournaments.

I mean, I was expecting it, that it's going to be really -- I mean, it's going to be tough, it's going to be difficult, yeah, and I'm ready for that.

Q. Happy New Year. As you went into the preseason with your coach, I'm curious, obviously with your ranking's rise and your accomplishments last year, is it tricky at all to set goals for this year or aspirations? There is only so many spots in the rankings you can go up. You're already a major champion. So when it comes to goal setting, how tricky was that?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I think it's not tricky. I think it's very clear. You know, I'm here to try to win as many matches as I can. I think that's the goal.

I'm not really thinking about, you know, how many ranking spots I can go up. I think this is not what I'm trying to focus on. I mean, I'm trying to focus on playing as many or playing and winning as many matches as I can.

Q. You talked about your goal of enjoying yourself on the court and stuff. I'm curious, for you, what does that mean for Barbora Krejcikova in terms of enjoyment? What's it take to enjoy being on the court for you?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I would say like when I play with the best players, you know, it's just really, it's 50/50. You never know. Just the way you are there, the way you are trying to perform your best tennis. I think this is the way how I enjoy tennis. I just try to go and, yeah, just do my best. I think this is how I enjoy it (smiling).

Q. Is there anything in particular that you put a specific or heavier emphasis on during the preseason in your game or physically or something like that? Was there something that you and your team really wanted to focus on?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I tried to rest as much as I could (smiling). So I think that was the big key, because the last season was really long and really tough.

I mean, we have been working on everything, on everything, yeah, pretty much everything.

Q. The way the draw has worked out, you won't meet Ash Barty until the final if you do meet. Just wanting to know your thoughts on how much of a threat she is in this tournament and leading into the Australian Open.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: What is...

Q. Threat, how much of a threat is she.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: What is that?

Q. Dangerous, how dangerous is she? What are her chances?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Ash?

Q. Yeah.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Ahead of the Australian Open, or...

Q. At this tournament as well as for the Australian Open.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Okay. Yeah, I mean, Ash is really good. She's a really good player. I had a chance to play her a couple times last year, and it was very, very tricky, very difficult.

I mean, yeah, she's playing really well. I have been watching her last week also in Adelaide, and she's been, yeah, she's been playing amazing tennis.

Yeah, I mean, I hope that we are gonna have a big chance to beat her, at least one of us, but otherwise I think, yeah, she's just a huge player, great champion, and, yeah, and I wish her all the best. It would be a pleasure to play against her.