THE MODERATOR: Thank you for joining the press conference with Team Czechia.
Barbora, you've been here for a while. You have a lot of experience in this competition. What do you think all these girls bring?
CAPTAIN STRYCOVA: Well, these girls are amazing. I am so proud to be the captain of such an amazing team, such amazing girls. I mean, all of them have amazing seasons. Amazing, amazing, amazing (smiling), amazing seasons. Yeah, it's really nice to be here and have them next to me.
THE MODERATOR: We'll go to questions in English, please.
Q. Linda, looking at the ranking, you're not only the number one in your team but in this tournament. That translates to you in feeling a privilege? Pressure?
LINDA NOSKOVA: Well, I wouldn't look at the numbers this way. I mean, we're not playing singles here. It's all about the team competition. It doesn't really matter whose singles ranking is what.
Obviously I worked my whole year to get where I am. But this is a team competition, so every point in every match counts. I don't look at it that way.
Elena Rybakina was supposed to play here just a few days ago, so... It's not this important, I would say.
Q. Linda and Karolina, how felt in your home country after the Wimbledon final? How have you developed your relationship since them? How are you excited to be here as a team? Linda, I read that you've been to Italy for holidays. I'd like to know something about that, as well.
LINDA NOSKOVA: Well, I think that we both made our country proud that day, no matter result. But I think our relationship hasn't changed in either way. We're happy that we can be here as a team and fight for our country, as we always do. This week is a little bit more important. So yeah, not much has changed.
I did have a holidays in Italy. It was great to get out of the chaos for, like, one week. I had five days abroad. That was nice to be alone with nobody talking about whatever happened a few days ago (smiling).
Q. I would like to know in this kind of trips going that far, do you have any trick, any secret for jet lag, for battling jet lag?
SARA BEJLEK: Well, I arrived two days ago from Mexico. I have 12 hours' change. Honestly, I'm getting pretty good with the jet lag. I woke up today at 7, so I'm happy. It's good (smiling).
Q. Since arriving in Shenzhen, what has impressed you the most? For the Billie Jean King Cup competition, we know this is a competition for a group, a team. How does that mean to Czech Republic?
KAROLINA MUCHOVA: I think for all of us, as we play individual sport, all the year basically we play for ourselves. This week is very special that we play side by side, we play as a team, we have the same goal.
I think for me, that's very different dynamic. I love it. I love to represent Czech Republic alongside these girls. Having Bar as a captain, we have an incredible team.
About Shenzhen, it's my first time here. Yeah, the arena is beautiful. People are so nice. There are so many fans always welcoming us everywhere. I hope they going to come to support us tomorrow and the arena is going to be packed.
We can't wait to be playing already.
Q. Barbora, I'd like to know how you dealing with the effect to be the favorite of the competition for many other teams. Some teams try to deal with it without thinking about it. In my opinion, it's something good because it means that other teams have good consideration of you and your players. How do you arrive at this event and how do you feel about?
CAPTAIN STRYCOVA: Well, definitely we are not thinking about that we are the favorites because to play team competition like Billie Jean King Cup, everybody can play good and everybody can be in a great form.
To play for your country, for the people at home, it's really different. You can play amazing tennis even though you don't feel really well.
Yeah, maybe on the paper we are the favorites. Tomorrow we are playing our first match, which is going to be very hard one. It's going to be a big battle on the court. We have to just focus on that and then we go from then on.
Q. Linda, I noticed on social media you have been practicing morning exercise in Shenzhen Bay. What do you think about the view? What is the difference of Shenzhen from other cities?
LINDA NOSKOVA: Well, it is my first time in Shenzhen. Obviously since the first morning I was kind of jet-lagged, so I had some extra time in the morning. I just walked around a little bit.
It's beautiful. I feel like all the cities in China are so special and different from each other. It's nice to see different part. In China, I feel like I've only been in Beijing and Wuhan. Other than that, it's always nice to see a different place.
Q. Karolina, many fans have posted their picture with you on social media. What do you think about the atmosphere and what do you think about the Chinese fans and their relationship with you?
KAROLINA MUCHOVA: Yeah, as I mentioned before, I love it. The people are so kind here. They always brings me some gifts. One girl the other day gave me the list with the coffee shops and restaurants which I could go to, which was very helpful for me. I really appreciate that. I enjoy it.
People here are so passionate, I would say. They really love the sport. The support... I always love to come back to China.
Q. Siniakova, you were playing doubles with Zhang Shuai in Toronto. What do you think about the city of Shenzhen and how do you feel about meeting Zhang Shuai here in Shenzhen?
KATERINA SINIAKOVA: I always love to play with Shuai. I mean, she's amazing player. She's amazing person. Of course, meeting her here, it's really nice. I already speak with her. I have feeling she's always there to help, do anything. I mean, we not playing against each other yet. I don't know what to say. I just like to see her again.
Yeah, for me it's not first time in Shenzhen, but definitely it feels different. It's nice to be back. It's always nice to be in China because of the fans. They are always supporting, passion, as she said.
I'm just enjoying to be here with the great team.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports