ATP CUP

January 2, 2022

John Isner

Taylor Fritz

Michael Russell

Brandon Nakashima

Team USA

Press Conference

Team USA - 3

Team Canada - 0

THE MODERATOR: First question to Captain Michael. Great start here for Team USA.

MICHAEL RUSSELL: Yeah. Phenomenal. John came out playing really well, served well, stayed focused, and gave us that first point.

And then Taylor fought hard, lost a close first set and turned it around, and then, which is a big win.

And then the guys played great in doubles. I mean, really good chemistry and was really excited and happy about the win.

Q. John, good win. Obviously, new year. It must be nice to start with a couple wins and a win for the team.

JOHN ISNER: Yeah, for sure. I mean, two years ago we didn't fare as well throughout the whole event, and on the first day, so to sort of flip that script for us is great. It's a fantastic start. It's all about getting wins, and winning in a 3-0 fashion, as we know, is very or important also.

So I'm happy to do my part today, I guess.

Q. Taylor, I imagine when you're up 6-2 in the tiebreak and then they turned it around it could probably be pretty easy to let it go, so how were you able to just sort of hang in there.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Obviously I was really upset about the first set and not just the tiebreaker. I had multiple break points in the set as well. I felt like I was, I felt like I deserved to win. I definitely deserved to win the set. I basically did everything but win it.

So I don't know. I knew that it was obviously really important for the team and also really for me and I felt like that I played pretty well in the first set, but I felt like I could play even better, so I just kind of focused on that and told myself to just kind of do the same thing I just did and win the next two sets.

Q. People were taking an interest in you and Mike, your strategic chats over the changeovers. Just how much do you enjoy, I mean, it was like that in Milan too a few years ago. How much do you enjoy sort of analyzing what's going on out there?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I guess like I have someone to talk to when I'm not -- can't talk to my coach, just literally the same things are just kind of going on in my own head.

But it's like nice to have someone there because then I'll tell them what I'm thinking and then kind of get that confirmation, like, yeah, I agree. I think that's right. So then I can kind of just like get a second opinion on the things that I'm thinking about.

Q. But as you said, that's something you just always sort of, whether you have the team zone and Mike or not, you always sort of enjoy breaking down what's in your head at the time?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, of course. I think I think a big part of tennis is being able to strategize and kind of understand what's going on in the match. And I've always been a huge advocate for -- obviously in team events it's different, but I've been a huge advocate for no on-court coaching, a conversation we've had over the past couple years a lot because I think tennis is an individual sport and I think a huge part of it is kind of doing these things and figuring it out by yourself.

Q. Brandon, I know you didn't get on the court today, but what was it like to be a part of Team USA's win?

BRANDON NAKASHIMA: Yeah, it was really cool. It was great experience for me out there. It's different playing against them and watching them close up, so it's great learning for me out there and being able to watch all these top guys competing out there doing what they do best, it's nice to be part of the team.