Krejčíková relaxed on Route 66. Storming Prague? My legs are shaking
She has 111 astronomical matches on her feet this year, and a lot of others are still waiting for her. You will go for morals, but also for adrenaline, which will wash into her blood as soon as you imagine, as a Czech leader, she will appear in front of the stormy O2 arena in a big tournament for the Billie Jean King Cup. “I will go to my maximum and I believe that it will work, because this season is for that,” says Barbora Krejčíková, champion of Roland Garros and the largest Czech weapon for the World Championship of tennis teams. The Czechs will open it on Monday, November 1, with a German and a German.
As has become customary on a tennis tour, whoever defeats Barbora Krejčíková will win the entire tournament. This has been the case in recent months at Wimbledon and Cincinnati (both Ashleigh Barty), at the Tokyo Olympics (Belinda Bencicová) and most recently in Indian Wells, where Paula Badosa stopped the Czech star in the round of 16.
“She’s a good friend of mine, so I wished her. But I also made a decent result there, “said Krejčíková from Brno, where she is already honestly training for the Prague BJK Cup. While she pulled her legs during the US Open and collapsed on the court in September, she now reports that the energy storage is refilling. An American trip to Route 66 and a bike ride around Santa Monica also helped. Krejčíková is smiling again, determined and most often repeats one sentence before the Prague tournament: I’m so looking forward to it!
The biggest topic of recent weeks has been how you manage to relax before the brutal end of the year, when the Billie Jean King Cup awaits you in Prague and then the Champions Tournament in Mexico. Is it working?
“I would say yes. I am relaxed, I feel good, and my workouts are good. I try to gather as much energy as possible every day so that I can then expend it on the court. I expect the Billie Jean King Cup to be very challenging, but on the other hand I’m really looking forward to it. “
You have chosen a few trips to the Indian Wells tournament in California. What did you experience during them?
“When I’m so far, you want to know something. Before leaving, my escort and I took a trip to LA, we rode our bikes around Santa Monica. We got up very early in the morning to catch it all. I also looked at the end of Route 66. I had a good time there, I was very great there and I recharged my flashlights a lot. “
In America, you met them, Billie Jean King, who gave you her fresh resume. Everything is dedicated. What was the meeting like?
“Very nicely. She was happy to play, to represent the whole event. It was beautifully listened to and I hope that my results will be worth it and our team will get as far as possible. I’ve met Billie Jean before, but this was the first time I’ve had success. There were more of us girls with her, I got a book from her, but I haven’t had time to read it yet. But it is dedicated to her, and when I have a little more time, I definitely plan to read it, because I am interested in her life. She is great, she asked me what nice it would be to see in Prague, what I would recommend to her. I had a very pleasant feeling from our conversation. “
Barbora Krejčíková felt sick during the match with Muguruza
What did you recommend?
“Well, I had a bit of a problem with English names, so I had to consult. But I definitely recommended Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Astronomical Clock and the whole Old Town Square. Just all our greatest beauties. “
King will arrive in Prague on the occasion of the premiere of the competition, which is named after her and follows the Fed Cup. You are not only a Czech player and a girl from a poster, but also the highest ranked one who will present the event. Does it give a person confidence? Can you reduce the pressure you are exposed to?
“The pressure will be there, because I have had quite a lot of success this year, I am suddenly fourth in the rankings. I have a red target on my big back and everyone will want to shoot it down. The more I admit it, the harder I will play. I have to go there like any other match, fight, enjoy and I believe it will be good. Because I had results this year and I really want to finish the season well. I will go to my maximum and I believe that it will work, because this season is for that. “
Can you say that enthusiasm for the tournament will be your biggest weapon?
“Probably yes. I feel good and I’m really looking forward to it. Of course, I can’t guess whether it will be good or not. This will only be seen in matches. But I do everything to make it good, I was in a good mood and gave the best performances, even though the season is over. I really wish we did so well! I’m doing everything I can to make it work. “
You have said before how much you love team competitions.
“It is true. I really like them and already as a junior, when I got the opportunity to represent, I always went. I think that playing for the Czech Republic in the O2 arena will be my biggest peak. It’s like a dream. In 2018, I experienced the atmosphere of the finals, but I did not play. I always wished I could get on the court. That is happening now, and I have a huge motivation for us all to do well. I hope that the team will be in the same mood, we will all encourage each other to make the best of it. The implementation team around always creates a terribly pleasant positive atmosphere, which is a great key to success. You really enjoy that week and don’t want it to end. “
You will be the leader as the biggest star on and off the court. Are you ready for this role?
“I’ve never been in that situation, so what do I know. It will be recognized when we meet. And what matches the most is whether I have what it takes to be our team. Maybe not, you never know. But I hope it will be positive, as we will pull each other and it will turn out well. “
Are you already scouting your opponents?
“I watched all the girls a lot in the last matches to have an overview of what awaits me. And to create the best possible strategy to play them. We will see how fast the surface will be and other conditions, how it will suit us. “
How many tickets will you need for the Prague tournament?
“Quite a lot. I’m really looking forward to having family members, friends and acquaintances there, in addition to the fans. And that they will play in front of them. But what I’m most looking forward to is the arena, how it will roar there, what it will play in front of so many people. What I experienced in the final of 2018, how the hall was full and everyone chanted, was absolutely wonderful. I have goosebumps, I’ll just remember that. I hope I can do it on the court then, because I’m already thinking about it and my legs are shaking. “