AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2022

Barbora Krejcikova

Press Conference

B. KREJCIKOVA/A. Petkovic

6-2, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: What a fantastic performance. Talk us through your match today.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, thank you so much. I think I played really well today.

Yeah, it's really, I think it was very difficult match, because, yeah, like couple days ago I was in Sydney, I was playing there, I had a lot of tough matches there, and also it was played indoors. I mean, the conditions, they were different. So I'm really happy with the way how I handled the match.

Yeah, it's good to be back.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What is your satisfaction level with how you have started this season after having such a good year last year that you're able to come out of the gates to begin this season playing so well?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Yeah, I mean, I'm really happy. I'm really happy that I'm playing well and I'm still continuing playing well.

I also have results, because that's very, I mean, that's very important to stay wherever I want to stay. I'm really happy with that, and, I mean, I'm looking forward just keep adding.

Q. What pleased you most about your matches in Sydney? Obviously some very, very close matches in the last two rounds and also I guess not being tired from that here too. What are you sort of taking most out of your game that's positive?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I think it was really good preparation. I think I had -- I mean, first two rounds I played girls that are 70 so it was a little bit different and I think I was handling it well. I played Anett and I played Paula, these two girls are top-10 players, they have been very good end of the last year, and they came up and they are playing really strong.

I mean, I'm happy that, yeah, that I was able to play against both of them, and I think I did well. Even though I lost the finals, I think it was still a really good match and I take only positive out of it. I'm looking forward meeting them in the future again. And, yeah, it's what I want to do.

Q. You played so many matches last year, singles and doubles. By the US Open you were hitting a bit of a wall in terms of fatigue. What did you do in the offseason to try to rest and try to refill your energy?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: So I tried to rest a lot. I tried to spend some time with my family, with my close friends. I went for holidays.

And then, I mean, I started, I was doing a lot of like fitness sessions only. I mean, then later on I added tennis. And, I mean, I'm really pleased with the way how the offseason went. I think it was a really good offseason even though it was short.

And, yeah, I'm fresh, I'm here, I'm planning to play well. Yeah, I'm looking forward just to enjoy tennis.

Q. After a season where you win a Grand Slam in singles and a gold medal also in doubles, how do you set sort of goals for 2022?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I'm not really setting big goals. I think the goals that I'm setting is to try to win every single match I play, and I think that's the goal for this season. And also to stay healthy. I think, I mean, that's the No. 1, that's the most important one. Yeah, trying to win as many matches as I can again. Just keep going with that.

Q. With the turnaround from Sydney to Melbourne, did you fly that night to get to Melbourne? Did you fly the next day? Did you even hit on the courts much on Sunday? What was the last 48 hours like in terms of getting ready for this match?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: So after the match, I mean, I tried to, just tried to recover, tried to do everything to recover.

Then we were really lucky that the tournament from Sydney, they organized a charter flight, so all four finalists, we went on that flight. So we flew in during the night.

Then, I mean, the next day I slept in. I tried to, yeah, recover. I actually hit a little bit here on Sunday. Yes, and then this morning I hit again, and now I'm playing (smiling).

Q. Were the conditions, did they feel that different from Sydney for you? Or did it feel pretty seamless?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I think the courts are very similar. It just more the conditions, because, I mean, in Sydney we played -- or I played all of my matches indoors, which is different. It was easy in Sydney, but coming here and playing outdoors right now with the sun and with the wind and with everything, it can get tricky.

Yeah, so, I mean, I tried to prepare. I tried to do everything. I think, yeah, with the match, I think it was good. I think I did good job, and, yeah, I have to get used to the conditions here again.

Q. What are you doing to take your mind off of the tennis? It's a lot of time -- I don't know. Obviously once doubles starts you'll get busy again on your off days, but how do you relax right now?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, as you know, I don't really have that many off days, because I'm playing a lot. But, I mean, like, I like to watch some movies. I like to watch serials. I'm actually watching "Narcos," if you know that one. I did the one that was in Colombia and now I'm in Mexico. So I like to do this.

I mean, then I try to rest as much as I can. I sleep a lot. It's my favorite thing to do (smiling).

Then, I mean, I'm in touch with my family a lot. I talk to them. Also with my friends. I mean, then if I have more time, like if I'm somewhere where there is a sea, I like to go to the beach. I like to spend time there. Just chill.

Yeah, I mean, there are like a lot of things that I like to do, like, outside of tennis. But during the season there is not that much time for me.

Yeah, I didn't do much this year yet.

Q. I wanted to ask you just a general question about tennis. If there was one thing that you could change in tennis, maybe something to do with the rules or the equipment, what would it be? What would you like to change?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: It's tricky. Hmm. Well... Hmm. I mean, it's tough. I don't know. Because, I mean, I play tennis and, yeah, I mean, there are rules and I have to -- yeah, I have to go with the rules. So it's really tough to, you know, just say that something, that there is something that I don't like.

Yeah, I mean, I would maybe say that I really don't like the match tiebreaks in doubles. I think this shouldn't be there. And the no ad stuff, it's not good. But, I mean, in singles, yeah, I think the rules, the rules are clear, and I think it's similar for everybody. Yeah, I don't really know what else I would change.