No. 1 seed Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova: I like EMPIRE Slovak Open tournament

Native of Pilsen Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova (28) will be No. 1 seed at the EMPIRE Slovak Open to defend last year's singles title in Trnava. Czech tennis player have always loved coming back to Trnava.

Have you been surprised by the last triumph in Trnava or have you believed that something like that could happen?

"I was very surprised by my last year result and it was also a satisfaction for those long and challenging workouts that I had before. It was very emotional for me. I was able to play very well in the final match and I was better and better after each and every match of the tournament."

Which of your last year's matches will you remember the most like and why? Was the final against Knapp the hardest one?

"I recall the first round most often (against Katarzyna Kawa of Poland). I won in the third set and I have saved match point in the match. If you win this kind of match, it always helps the psyche. So it was very important and I am glad that I managed it then."

The whole interview you will find in the tournament bulletin in the next week in TC EMPIRE Trnava.

An updated Entry List of the players in the Main Draw of the EMPIRE Slovak Open tournament:

Pos	Player	Ranking
1	Barbora ZAHLAVOVA STRYCOVA (CZE)	57
2	Anna Karolina SCHMIEDLOVA (SVK)	68
3	Julia GLUSHKO (ISR)	96
4	Jovana JAKSIC (SRB)	105
5	Petra MARTIC (CRO)	109
6	Anna-Lena FRIEDSAM (GER)	112
7	Andrea HLAVACKOVA (CZE)	115
8	Vesna DOLONC (SRB)	116
9	Evgeniya RODINA (RUS)	130
10	Olivia ROGOWSKA (AUS)	131
11	Tadeja MAJERIC (SLO)	134
12	Kristina KUCOVA (SVK)	137
13	Danka KOVINIC (MNE)	140
14	Saisai ZHENG (CHN)	143
15	Lucie HRADECKA (CZE)	144
16	Aliaksandra SASNOVICH (BLR)	149
17	Cagla BUYUKAKCAY (TUR)	150
18	Madison BRENGLE (USA)	151
19	Stephanie VOGT (LIE)	152
20	Aleksandra KRUNIC (SRB)	158
21	Eva BIRNEROVA (CZE)	160
22	Lesia TSURENKO (UKR)	161