THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2026

Barbora Krejcikova

Press Conference

B. KREJCIKOVA/M. Andreeva

4-6, 7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Barbora, great match today. How are you feeling after that great victory?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, obviously I feel tired (smiling). I mean, it was a long match, and after quite some while, I played such a long match, and, I mean, playing against Mirra is obviously very difficult. She just won French Open couple weeks ago.

Yeah, I'm really proud and really happy that somehow I made it through and was able to get the last point.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Congrats. Can you just walk us through the last two games? Because it was like a Hollywood movie, so many match points. How big a moment was it for you, when you reflect on it, and your emotions in the last 30 minutes?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, obviously Mirra is a big, big fighter. Even though I was up 5-2, then 5-3, I was 40-Love, I knew that she's going to be putting the balls back in, and she's gonna let me work for it. So I knew that I have to win and make, you know, the very last point.

I mean, even though I didn't serve it out, and we get to the 5-4, I was still believing that I can put some pressure on her serve and that I can return quite well and get the match there.

Q. Did that feel like, when you walk on that court, do you feel like, okay, I have been a Wimbledon champion? Does that matter in a match like this?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, when I walk on the court, I mean, I just pretty much enjoy. I mean, it's such a special feeling to be walking on a Centre Court at Wimbledon. Every time I was able to get this opportunity, I mean, I feel very excited and very just pleased.

It's a bit of, like, an unreal moment that it's really happening, because yeah, to get so far from a little kid, I mean, the chances that, you know, a little kid gets here are very, very little.

So just every time I step on the Centre Court, it's unique and special.

Q. Mirra, in the third set, was obviously becoming a little bit more frustrated just with herself and how she was playing. I guess, as an opponent, is that something you're kind of noticing and potentially using to your advantage or more like, okay, you could stay more calm knowing that she is kind of, respectfully, just getting a little bit more frustrated with her own game?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, it's tough. I mean, I know her. I played her many times and I know how she behaves. I have seen many matches and all that. So I kind of know how she is.

But also, on the other hand, I'm on the other side, and I'm trying to focus on myself, on my thing, on my points, on what I've got to do. Yeah, that's pretty much it.

Q. In the last set, the noise in the audience kept changing. There was an England game going on at the same time, people were following it. You had the ball in your hands, you were serving, there was quite a bit of raucous in the crowd. Did you pick up on any of that?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I thought it was for us. (Laughter.) But okay. I mean, I wasn't really thinking that there is obviously a football game. I mean, I didn't really pay any attention to that.

I'm on the court. It was really, really tight, I mean, when we get to that moment. And I was just focusing on serving, returning, playing my game.

Q. I know a couple of times you asked for a replay of the point to see the Hawk-Eye mark. How much do you trust electronic line calling? I know you can't control it. I'm curious, your thoughts on it?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I'm not really a person -- I mean, I like the old style, to be honest. Let's say it like this: I like the old style with the officials and everything and with three challenges and with all that.

Now with the new style, it is what it is. I mean, it's not much I can do. But, I mean, when I was there and I was, like, I'm standing right next to or right in front of the ball and I see the bounce, and I'm actually surprised that it's not calling it, because I'm there, I'm seeing it. And I'm the one that is the closest to the line and I see it out.

Then, I mean, the Hawk-Eye says nothing, or the electronic line calling says nothing. The chair umpire cannot do anything. All that. It shows in on the screen, and I mean, that's how it is. So I have to go with that.

Q. What part of your game that you planned today worked good considerably that you could make your game? What did you not make her that she feels good during the match from your strategy?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, I'm not going to say out loud my strategy. I believe it's not the first and last time I'm playing Mirra. (Laughter.)

I mean, she's on tour for, what, for three years, and I already play her five times. She's, like, drawn to me.

Q. I understand. You have been through the last 10, 15 years experiencing the development of tennis. You have a very complete game, and Mirra is playing more the three-shot, quickly, powerful game. Which one would you say to a young player today? Play this very modern game? Because you're getting successful in the most important tournament in the world, and you have all-court game, you can do all the shots. You're so complete.

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. (Laughter.)

No, I mean, I think it's very individual, and I think there is not really a way of telling a younger player to play like this or like that. I mean, I think it needs to come natural. I mean, for me how I'm playing is natural for me; how Mirra is playing is natural for her.

I think it's very important to be dedicated and to go on the court every single day and to try to improve the things that are not working or even the strengths and stuff.

But I wouldn't really say you've got to play like this or like that.

Q. You got sick before the start of the tournament, if I'm right. Curious if you were expecting still to be able to play that well?

BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Yeah, I mean, yes, I got sick. It's been, let's say, two weeks ago. It was tough. It was very disappointing, because it happened before the finals during a different tournament.

Yeah, it was tough. I mean, it was kind of like a setback, because I felt like I was really prepared quite well and I was playing quite good. And then, yeah, it got me a little bit sidelined for a little while, and I definitely felt it in the previous tournament that I played, that it just wasn't really at a great spot. I mean, yeah, we decided just to try to play and try to practice and get maximum out of it, out of the time that we had left.

Obviously, yeah, to be honest, I'm surprised that I was able to play such a good match and such a long match. Physically, I was quite -- I mean, it was up and down, but at the end, I was quite okay.