ATP CUP

January 5, 2022

Roberto Bautista Agut

Pablo Carreno Busta

Team Spain

Press Conference

Team Spain - 2

Team Serbia - 0

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Team Spain. Second country to make the semifinals here. How do you rate your performances today? How do you see the semifinal against Poland on Friday?

PABLO CARRENO BUSTA: Well, today I think that we make a very good job. It's very important now to be in semifinals, but I think that we play three ties very, very, very focused, very solid, and winning all the matches is very important also for the confidence.

And now thinking in Poland, they also won all of these tie. We need to be carefully but thinking that we can do it. We have a very good team, and if we continue like today, I think that we have a lot of chances to win the final.

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: I think we have to be very happy. I think the level on the court was good every day, and the level we show up every day was good. I think the way that we won the matches was also good.

We have to be very happy, because we won every match, we won every tie, and we are at the semifinal against Poland, no? I think Poland has been doing very well also. They have a strong team, but as Pablo said, we have to be very focused on us, on our game, and if we play good and we do our job well, we will have chances to win.

Q. Pablo, your next match against Kamil, I believe you played him in Morocco in 2015. Was that a future or a challenger? What do you remember about that match? Do you expect him to put up a good fight?

PABLO CARRENO BUSTA: Yeah, it was a challenger on clay. It was so bad match (smiling) I remember, but I think it's so different. This match we play on hard court, indoor, and I know I'm best player than six years ago. I suppose that also him, but I make a lot of good results in these years, and now I'm feeling more comfortable than the first days.

So today, for example, I played very, very solid from the baseline and being aggressive, making a lot of winners. So I think that I'm ready to fight and ready to play this match. I know that will be tough, of course. They are in semifinals, but if I do my job, if I play my level, I will have chances to beat him.

Q. Roberto, because Pablo's win guaranteed your place in the semifinal, did that allow you to go out and play without pressure and just enjoy the match tonight?

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: Yes, I think being already qualified was not easy to go on court and play, but I tried to do my job well, to be focused, to keep working well and get rhythm at the beginning of the year.

I think I played a good match. I won in two sets. I felt very well on the court.

Q. Finally, Roberto, you have a 2-0 record against Hurkacz, both of those wins were on hard court. What are your thoughts on playing Hubi in the semis?

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: I think he's a better player now. He has very big serve. Well, I think I have to focus on me, on my game. I have to play aggressive, to be solid, and if I do my things well, I will have chances to win the match.