HYUNDAI HOPMAN CUP XXIV – Transcript Jarmila Gajdosova (Australia)

Written by: Staff on 7th January 2012

HYUNDAI HOPMAN CUP XXIV - Transcript Jarmila Gajdosova (Australia)

Jarmila Gajdosova of Australia celebrates her win against Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain during the women's singles session 2 match of the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia, 01 January 2012. Australia won the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. EPA/TONY MCDONOUGH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

5^th January 2012

Well congratulations ending on a win – how did you find the whole tournament?

The tournament has been a great event, it’s very well organised. It’s a tough competition so it’s a good start for the year. It’s a tough one to go straight ahead of the top ten but you know it’s a good experience and good preparation.

Up against Li Na today, French Open, is that a good test heading into the Australian summer?

Definitely, I always enjoy playing her, we’ve played each other a lot of times. It’s always nice to play her again and she’s a very good ball striker so it’s always going to be tough. She moves well. I thought I was alright and a pretty solid match, so I think it’s pretty good.

Sorry to bring up what happened the other night – but can you just tell me what you learnt from that experience?

What I learnt is that there are bad days in the office, and that you shouldn’t go to dentist day before.

So you actually went to the dentist?

I had a root canal done and I still go in tomorrow again, and yesterday I was there as well.

So you felt that?

Well obviously I had a few medications in me, but that doesn’t take the fact that Marion was playing unbelievable and she would have beat me either way. She played very well and unfortunately I just couldn’t get any rhythm and just get into the match and give me chance to do so. As I say it’s one of those days that I just couldn’t do anything about it. Couldn’t stop it and unfortunately I got a beating the way I did and it was pretty embarrassing, but it happens and I try to forget it and learn from it and move on.

Jarka how does it feel different when you’re on court and they say ‘game Australia’ – that you’re playing just under your country’s name?

It feels great – it always has. In the last few years I’ve played for Australia a lot, especially in the Grand Slams and Fed Cup, so it definitely means a lot to me and I hope the people take me that way. Whenever I can I enjoy listening to that.

You’re off to Hobart now where you’ve got points to defend – does that make it any tougher going in as defending champion?

Obviously I would like to defend your titles if you could. I’m looking forward to go there, it’s a lovely place and the people have been great to me there. I have a lot of fans there so it should be a great event either way. I just will try to improve what I did now and hopefully get ready for the Australia Open.

How was it different for you when you were playing mixed doubles with someone with who you were in a relationship with? Was it just the dynamic different playing with Lleyton? How does it compare?

It’s different thing. First one thing you play with obviously my husband, which was a lot of fun because it means family after all and we try to do really well. But Lleyton is Lleyton – it’s someone who you respect a lot and you have a lot to learn from. So you try not to disappoint and you try to help as much as you can. It’s a bit different but in the end it’s still mixed doubles and you try to do your job and you try to do what you can to win.

Is it easier one way or the other?

I don’t think so. I mean if you have the right partner they don’t really get upset at you if you miss something, or they will be always be supportive either way and they will try to do their best. They are both tennis players and know how to handle it, so I think it’s pretty similar.