THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2025

Barbora Krejcikova

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to Wimbledon. How does it feel walking back here into the grounds 12 months on from your title?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, first of all, hello, everybody. It feels great. It was very special moment when I entered the club after last year. I'm enjoying it. Every time I enter the club again, yeah, it's very, very beautiful and very special.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. This is your second time coming back as a defending champion for a major. How does it feel and how does it compare to the experience of doing it the first time?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, it feels great. Definitely I grew up since then, so I feel good. I feel very happy and really, let's say, privileged that I can be at this position and that I can go from this position into the tournament.

Q. How are you feeling physically after having to withdraw from Eastbourne with the thigh injury? Have you been feeling good on the practice sessions?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, I had to have couple days off where I didn't really play any tennis, but I did some off-court stuff. I've been feeling every day a little bit better, so I'm really happy with that.

I hope by Tuesday everything's going to be fine. Yeah, I hope I'm going to have a nice match and a great tournament.

Q. Is it difficult for you to enjoy being back as the defending champion because coming back so late in the season due to your back injury, or is it easier because there's less pressure? How does it feel coming here despite not playing a lot this year?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: It's definitely not difficult. It's actually very, very nice to be here and very nice to play, even after all the time I was out.

So I'm enjoying it. I'm happy to be here. I find it tough, complicated, but I don't find it difficult. Yeah, I'm looking forward very much to play on Tuesday.

Q. When Carlos and Jannik played the French Open men's final, where were you? What opportunity did you have to watch the match? What were you thinking?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I was actually on the grass already. I was in the Queen's Club preparing for the tournament. I was watching it from, like, beginning of third or fourth set until the end.

Yeah, it was great. I mean, definitely was a great, great match. Yeah, I mean, really happy for Carlos and really sad for Jannik.

Q. Any other thoughts about the comeback and the drama of that match?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I think it's something that tennis needs right now.

Q. Why?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Because I think it's entertaining for the fans.

Q. You come back as defending champion. How are the preparations different when you come back to a tournament you've already won?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, to me the preparation is the same. It's basically new tournament, even though I won it last year, and I'm having great memories for this one. I want to come here, and I want to do well again. So basically the preparation is the same.

I've been working really hard to come back and to be here and to enjoy this position. I'm looking forward that soon it's going to come, and I'm going to live through it.

Q. Your first-round match is against Alexandra Eala. How much of her matches have you seen? What is your mindset going into the match playing against her?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, to be honest, I don't really know that much about her yet because, I mean, she's obviously a young player, an upcoming player, and one of the players of new generation, I would say.

But, I mean, I saw some rallies. I saw some matches. I know that she was doing quite well at the first half of the year, so I'm looking forward. I mean, it's going to be I think great, great matchup. I'm looking forward to, yeah, play against her and to see where the young generation is.

Q. What do you think the nerves, emotion, excitement will be as you walk back on the Centre Court for your first match against Eala?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I think it's going to be a mix of all the emotions, but I think most of them are going to be very, very positive.

Q. What are your thoughts about the change with regard to lines calls, no more by humans, now by machines?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, to be honest, I like the old traditional style, so I like it the old way. With the new system, yeah, it's just the way it is.

Q. Do you have any thoughts about the accuracy of the new system versus the old system?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I don't know. I don't have any opinion on that.

Q. If you could say one thing about a single thing you remember most clearly from a year ago about the day you won, what's the one thing you think of first?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: It's tough to say one thing. The whole day was great. Saturday was great. Sunday was great. Everything was amazing. It was like a fairy tale.

Very tough to say. Maybe winning the match point and looking at the box. Maybe that's something, yeah. Very special.

Q. When you accepted the trophy, your face was as if when you touched it, you were afraid it would go to dust, but it was actually real in your hands.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I couldn't really believe that they are giving it to me. So yeah, that was I think what was going through my mind at that moment.