UNITED CUP

January 5, 2026

Jiri Novak

Jakub Mensik

Barbora Krejcikova

Adam Pavlasek

Team Czechia

Press Conference

Team Czechia - 3

Team Norway - 0

THE MODERATOR: A great tie for you guys, all three matches. Talk about your thoughts and how everyone played today.

JIRI NOVAK: I want to congratulate to my team, because I think they played the great matches today. We are so happy that we won 3-0, and all the players won their matches. The level of the game was pretty high. So I'm really very happy that we won.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. For Barbora and Adam, how did you decide on who was going to play mixed doubles? Were you thinking about trying to get to 3-0 for the group standings, and also how do you feel you played together?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, this was a captain decision, so it wasn't really our decision. I'm happy that the captain decided the way he did, and I'm happy that we have three points.

I enjoyed playing with Adam very much. It was first time for us, but we know each other since we were young. So I'm really happy that we did such a great match. I think we were matching the games very good today, yeah.

ADAM PAVLASEK: Yeah, I think Barbora said everything. The captain made the final decision, and we tried to do our best to make it three points in the group standings. I was enjoying every time next to Barbora. She won so many slams, so it was fun for me to be on the same stage as her.

Like I said, we tried our best to make the important point, and we just did it. So I think all us we are happy and looking forward for our match tomorrow.

Q. Jakub, how important was it for you mentally that Barbora got the first point on the board?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, obviously it's much more easier like your faults when you are 1-0 up than 1-0 down. I experienced both on the Davis Cup, so it's pretty much similar, but we played a great match.

Yeah, the way that she finished it, it's of course, obviously so much better to go on the court when you are 1-0 up. So, of course, I was more relaxed. I could play with a clear mind, which obviously it was good that we could make it.

Q. Barbora, last year I would say was probably a frustrating year for you with the injuries and the ups and downs, and now you are starting a new season. How are you feeling overall physically? How do you feel your game is? I know it's only just the start of the year, but generally.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, I'm very excited. I'm very excited I can be here, that I can play, that I'm fit to play, that I can start the season from the beginning, which last year I wasn't.

And I mean, I'm also really happy that I'm part of this event, this nice competition where we have a team. I think we have a really good atmosphere on the team, and it's been working really well. It's an honor to be here and to experience this.

Q. Barbora, I know you like watching tennis in general, so I'm just curious as Jakub's teammate, how have you enjoyed maybe watching him grow in the past year plus, and what do you enjoy about his game?

JAKUB MENSIK: Be careful (laughing).

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, I was definitely following him since he was cramping in Australia a couple of years ago (laughing). I was following him since then, and I'm really happy that he's making such progress and that he's doing great, and he's very talented.

What I definitely love about his tennis is the serve. So, no, but overall today I was able to watch him a little bit more, because I mean, the tours are separate, and we don't really have the opportunities to spend as much time together.

So, I mean, today was amazing. I think he was playing unbelievable, and he was serving really well during the important points. He was passing so many times. It was unbelievable.

We were sitting in our little office in there. We were, like, shouting at the TV and really pumping him up. I'm really happy that he won.

Q. If you don't mind me asking, just because you mentioned the serve, is there anything in particular you like about it or that's impressive or anything?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I think just the way how he hits it, how compact his serve is. I feel like he's tossing the ball every single time the same way, so that's something unique. It's something that is very tough for me, so I really -- actually I would love to have his serve.