THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2025

Barbora Krejcikova

Press Conference

B. KREJCIKOVA/A. Eala

3-6, 6-2, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Barbora, great win out there today. Describe your emotions on court today.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, first of all, thank you. Well, definitely very happy with this win because the match was really tough. It's a first round, so it's obviously very difficult to enter the tournament.

But I'm really happy that I got through and I'm in the second round, that yeah, I can keep going.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It seems like you really like the traditions here at Wimbledon. Today was a nice tradition of opening play on Centre Court for the defending women's champion. A few words on that experience.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, it was definitely a very nice experience. I really enjoyed the walk from the locker room down the stairs in front of the door, in front of the door to the court.

Then, yeah, when it opened, it was just very, very... Something very, yeah, very beautiful and just very joyful experience. This was really something that I was looking forward to since last year. I'm really happy that I had this opportunity to experience it, yeah, and feel it.

Q. What was going through your mind after that first set? How did you reset? How were you thinking? You had a young player with momentum behind her. How did you switch it up?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, obviously the first set, yeah, she just did better during the key points of the games. Yeah, she was playing some great tennis.

To be honest, I watched some of her matches. What she played in those matches, she didn't show up today. She played totally different tennis. Maybe I was a little bit lost at the beginning because of the way that I didn't maybe expect what she was playing.

But, I mean, on the other hand, I found a way. To be honest, I just went point by point, just go really, like, point, one after another, and try to put them together. I think was really, the key point was to gain some lead in that second set, yeah.

Q. Your level today, a lot of talk about the fitness you have coming into this, pulling out of Eastbourne. Were you surprised by the way you played today? It was a really high quality match and it felt like you were hitting the ball well.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, thank you. I mean, obviously it's the first match so you don't really know what's coming up. I mean, I think last week in Eastbourne I did well, and it was quite unfortunate that I had to pull out.

Yeah, I think those two matches that I played there were good. Yeah, I mean, I was kind of pretty much more hoping that I can level up again and I can continue playing as well as I did in Eastbourne.

You never know because it's a different tournament. The grass is also a little bit different. Yeah, I mean, I'm just very, very happy with this win. Really happy to get through to the second round.

Q. The mental side of your performance today. You came out talking about your success last year being a great learning curve for you, being a different player as a result. Does that help you stay in difficult moments now, keep your focus?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I think it's definitely helping. The result I achieved last year is definitely helping. I feel good. I mean, I feel, yeah, it's tough because sometimes you just feel stronger in your head. Things you're fighting there, sometimes you don't. It's very individual. I mean, every day is different.

Yeah, I'm obviously just very, very happy today was the day where I was really mentally there. I was fighting for every single ball, and the match turn around. Yeah, at the end I was the one that was, yeah, lifting up the arms.

Q. On walking out to the court, maybe walking into the grounds, coming in as champion, how does it compare to last year?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, I think I was more excited than last year, definitely. Yeah, I think I was feeling more of the, like, happier emotions than I did last year. I mean, it's just great to be back. It's just great to be playing in the temple of tennis. Yeah, it's just very, very special place here.