BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

September 25, 2026

Barbora Strycova

Linda Noskova

Team Czechia

Press Conference

L. NOSKOVA/C. Bucsa

7-6, 6-2

Team Czechia - 2

Team Spain - 0

THE MODERATOR: You're in the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup. It's been a while since Czechia has reached the stage of this competition. What has been the key factor for you to get to this stage?

CAPTAIN STRYCOVA: Obviously, I'm very, very proud of my team. Such an incredible group of players I have. To be in the final as a captain, for me being in this position for one year, is something if someone would tell me this, I would not believe. With such a team I have, it's possible.

The last step we have on Sunday. I feel like everybody wants it so much, we have the chance to lift the trophy. Last time we were in the final, 2018, which was my last year in Billie Jean King Cup as a player, so it's surreal, but in the same time it's very real.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Linda, congratulations. It was close in the first set, then you managed to move away from your opponent in the second set. Talk us through that match, how it went for you.

LINDA NOSKOVA: Yeah, tough match obviously. I knew Bucsa, but at the same time we played one match like two years ago. It was kind of tricky maybe to get used to the rhythm of her game. At the same time I definitely had my chances to close the first set much earlier than I actually did, which is always very disappointing if you have your chances that you made for yourself and then somehow kind of throw it away. At the same time she still played good. She kept the level up and made me win the first set.

Then the second one was much more comfortable for me.

Q. Is it easier going in as the No. 1 player on your team knowing you have so much strength behind you, that all your other teammates are probably higher ranked than most other players in this competition? Does that take some of the pressure off or do you feel you have to perform at your absolute best to justify being No. 1?

LINDA NOSKOVA: No, it doesn't mean any of these two things. I feel like once I played my first-ever Billie Jean King Cup match, I was No. 2, I still feel like that today.

For me, there is definitely no difference whether I am first or eight on the team, as long as I can play, I can play a great match, feel great on court. Obviously I'm not playing just for myself but for the team as well.

I always like a little extra healthy pressure. So it's good.

Q. Obviously your captain's generation of players had so much success in this competition. You have so much strength now as well. How important is it for you and for players your age to win this competition and match the feats of your captain?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Well, we definitely want to make our captain proud. As she said, the last time we won it, she was on the team. It would be quite I think beautiful for all of us to have her part of the team and win it once again, just from a different position.

But I always love to play for the team no matter what. No matter the circumstances or whether we're playing the finals or the quallies, nothing changes for me.

Q. Barbora, you mentioned that 2018 final. What are your memories of that? Was that a particularly special one?

CAPTAIN STRYCOVA: Yeah, it was a special one because I knew before we were playing against United States that it's going to be my last match in Billie Jean King Cup. I was retiring in that.

It was extra special because I was playing the opening match for, like, three hours against Kenin. I won that match in front of full crowd, like 13,000 people. I think the memories are staying with me forever. Sometimes when I go to see a concert in this arena, I'm just thinking about the moments I had there.

It would be something very, very special if we could pull it through on Sunday, that I could win it again, like Linda said, from a different position.

Q. Where would it rank in terms of your career on court when you were playing and now off court to be able to guide a team of younger players to this title?

CAPTAIN STRYCOVA: Well, it would mean so, so much because I would like to give it to the players, that feeling to lift the trophy, as they lift such incredible trophies themselves for, let's say, Wimbledon champion, these kind of things.

To be in a team and to play for your country is something very special and very different. I would like to have the feeling with them to do this.

But it's on Sunday. We have to focus. We can talk about it, but we have to do it first.

Q. Linda, today is Autumn Festival in China, which is all about family reunion. Your team is like a family. Will you have a some celebration tonight? What's your typical role at a team party, just chilling or have some drink and dance or game organizer?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Well, to the first question, I know about the festival. It was said to me many times. I definitely appreciate the fans coming out just a little bit more to watch us, different countries battling against each other. It's a real nice feeling to see the fans gathering together, whether it's in families or just single people.

The second question, the celebration? I feel like it's too late already for that. We always like to celebrate right after the win, the match. I don't think we have enough time for that. I feel like once we will maybe achieve what we want to achieve, that will be the real party.

I don't know what kind of partier I am. It's always better to forget that, I guess (smiling).

Q. Your next opponent will be Italy or Ukraine. What is your prediction towards this battle?

CAPTAIN STRYCOVA: Well, it's going to be a big battle. They have great players. You want me to pick one?

Q. Yes.

CAPTAIN STRYCOVA: I think it's going to be Italy.

LINDA NOSKOVA: Yeah, so do I.