BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 11, 2023

Petr Pala

Barbora Krejcikova

Katerina Siniakova

Team Czechia

Press Conference

DABROWSKI-FERNANDEZ/Krejcikova-Siniakova

7-5, 7-6

Team Canada - 2

Team Czechia - 1

THE MODERATOR: Thanks for joining. We will start with questions in English.

Q. It was a fantastic Billie Jean King Cup tie, although I appreciate it was a difficult night for the Czechs. Petr, could I just have your reflections on the tie, please?

CAPTAIN PETR PALA: Well, it's a tie that's difficult to swallow, because I thought we were going to win it, especially after we were one point ahead after the first singles.

Marketa turned the match around in the second set, and she had the momentum in the second set. Unfortunately when she had a break in the third set, I think it was a crucial game to give us a chance to win.

It's sad that the loss after so many matches she won came today, but it can happen, obviously. It was tough, because Leylah played very well. But I think Marketa had, especially in the second set, chance. One, two points to take the momentum from Marketa. Again, it was even match and Leylah played very well, and she took it also to the doubles match.

Girls had two tough doubles matches, one yesterday, one today, and very close. We got more lucky yesterday than today. That's a bit with the system of scoring, maybe you have it in the head also match tiebreak is also involved. But it was very close. I think Leylah was just a small difference today, that she played, she got the confidence from the singles she played.

But was one or two points. I think if girls would make it in the right time, returns, together, that's what you need in doubles, just in the right time, you know, the both can make it.

It was very close, one or two points. I was hoping that we might go to the match tiebreak but didn't happen. Very proud to the team the way they, you know, they tried. They did everything. They left everything on the court.

Q. It's probably not in the forefront of your mind at the minute, are there plenty of positives from this week to take into next season? I'm thinking Linda playing and winning the other night, for instance, and Marie. Are there plenty of positives to take forward?

CAPTAIN PETR PALA: Well, yeah, we have so many girls they can play and they love to represent their country. We always have a chance to win it.

I think that we were very close, that, you know, obviously to beat USA yesterday was very difficult. Also Switzerland first round, and tough tie today.

I was just hoping to have it that we got to the finals tomorrow and was a good chance to play for the Cup and to win it, but didn't happen. That's sports. I hope with this group of the girls, we will have a chance or they will have a chance to do it again.