THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Is the overwhelming feeling that you have excitement? Nervousness? What is the general feeling that you have before the tournament?
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Excitement.
Q. What are you excited about?
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Everything. I mean, I qualified for the WTA Finals for the last eight, eight best players of the season, with the best results. I mean, it's nice to be part of the group. It's nice to play against the top players.
During the regular tournaments, I wasn't really lucky this year to get this far at many tournaments. I'm looking forward to, yeah, play against them.
Q. This is the first year that the WTA have this rule where if you're a Grand Slam champion you could qualify. Did you know? Maybe not all players know about the rules. How early did you know that you were confident you could make it either way?
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Pretty much after US Open, after the last slam, after Aryna won US Open. I kind of felt like I have a big percentage to play the Finals.
Q. What do you think of the rule in general? In this case it helped you.
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, I don't mind. I don't think it's something that I should be deciding. It's the decision of the players council and of the tournament council and of the WTA.
I mean, this is the new rule, and I respect the new rule. Yeah, I feel, I mean, with this rule I'm happy that I was able to qualify.
Q. Do you personally or did you personally have any reservations or concerns about playing here in Saudi Arabia, given the human rights record here, particularly around women's rights and the LGBTQ+ community?
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, I feel at the beginning when this option of playing in here came up, I mean I was part of the calls. We raised some questions. I think most of the questions were answered.
I mean, I think it's important if the country wants to open up, it wants to change maybe a little bit of their traditions and what they did before previously, I think we should be open, as well, to this new opportunity.
I mean, so far I got here only two days ago, but I feel nice here. I mean, I feel good, so... I hope it's going to stay like this. I hope that maybe we can make a change here.
Q. I know you're excited to play tennis here. As the preeminent tennis fan on tour, are you also excited to watch tennis? Will we see you front row?
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, definitely yes. I hope I'm going to have a chair with my name on it and it's going to be there for, like, every single match. It's going to be, like, empty for me, ready for me, that I can show up and watch some good tennis (laughter).
Q. There have been a lot of coaching changes this year, especially on the WTA side. Personally, what are the sort of things you look for in a coach, how you go about making that decision?
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I think it's changing. I think it's changing definitely with the experience that I'm getting.
I mean, right now I think I just want somebody, because I'm traveling with them the whole year, that's positive, that knows the tennis, that's there and can help with everything that's around it. Someone that also can make really nice bubble that I feel good in.
Yeah, I think the mental part is important. I feel that I need the people that can help me with this, yeah.
Q. When you say it's changing, do you mean it's now more about the personalities? You say you're spending so much time together.
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: It's different because I think when I was 20, I was looking for a good coach that can help me with the good technique, that can kind of like guide me to the pro tennis, show me how it actually works.
Now I feel I'm more experienced. I think I'm one of the oldest ones that are in the field. I feel that I've been through a lot, and some things I can maybe also right now handle by myself a little bit better. Also I think I should expose myself to it so I can get more experience.
Yeah, I don't know what I wanted to say (smiling).
That's why I think it's changing. I think I'm different player right now than when I was 20 or 22.
Q. When you're watching tennis this week from your front row seat with your name on it...
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Is it going to be there?
Q. Yes, Alex will sort it.
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Can I pick my seat (laughter)?
Q. How do you rate this field as a collection of athletes, from players that you've played from different eras, former No. 1s? Putting this bunch together, how good is the tennis at the moment?
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Well, I think the tennis is evolving. I think it's better every single week. That's how I feel. I think it's more powerful. I think players just getting better in every single aspect.
I think every year the field is stronger and stronger. I mean, it's more difficult to succeed.
Q. I wanted to check in on how you're physically feeling. You didn't get to practice between Ningbo and here. How are you feeling physically? Given your track record, are you someone who it doesn't really matter if you have a month of preparation or two days of preparation?
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I mean, I feel good. I've definitely felt better already. I feel good now. Definitely after Ningbo I had to take couple days off and went for some treatments, really didn't play any tennis. I started pretty, like, recently.
But, I mean, I feel good on court. We are trying to just add more to the practices. I mean, I see how I'm going to do on Sunday. I believe I can do well and I believe I can play some good tennis in Riyadh.
Q. You'll open against Iga. Epic matches in the past. A rivalry you've played well in. Talk about the rivalry between both of you, what you make of Iga as a player, the challenge of beating her here.
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: That's a lot of questions. I'll try (laughter).
First to start, Iga is a great tennis player. She's been one of the most consistent during the season. She was No. 1 for most of the season. Yeah, I mean, it couldn't get any tougher for the first match.
I mean, I like to play against her. I mean, I always enjoy 'cause she's, yeah, obviously one of the best. I mean, I like to challenge myself against the best ones. So I'm looking forward for this match.
Yeah, I hope we going to have a nice match. I hope she's not going to kick my butt all the way (laughter). Also on the other side I feel like I can have a good chance and I can play good tennis right now. I believe in my skills.
Q. We know about the tennis rivalry between you two. Have you discussed the LEGO rivalry?
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: Iga, she didn't play the Asian tour, so we didn't really have opportunity. Right now it's just hello and that's it.
Q. You have a sense of humor on Twitter. You're responding to everybody. Is that something you've always done, notice what people are saying? Is this new?
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA: I don't know. I think it's just coming from the way that I'm just getting older, I'm just trying to maybe enjoy the journey a little bit more than I used to maybe previously when I was coming to the top 100 and all that.
I mean, I feel good. When there is something funny from the fans, like why shouldn't I answer? Yeah, that's where it's coming from.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports