BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

April 15, 2022

Katarina Zavatska

Team Ukraine

Press Conference

J. PEGULA/K. Zavatska

6-2, 6-1

USA - 2

Ukraine - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What were your thoughts overall playing singles today?

KATARINA ZAVATSKA: Well, it wasn't easy. I just need to digest it a little bit more. I need more time to answer, like, a little bit wider.

Overall it was not easy. Definitely it was different. I came right after Dayana. The court was lighter today. The court was fast. But I think it's just because it was also, like, a match today, all the atmosphere, all the crowd and different conditions today definitely than the previous day when we were practicing on that court.

Kind of I felt not really comfortable today on court. Of course, she was playing very well. She was pushing me. I could not really, you know -- I had some moments where I felt that I'm playing not bad, but it was only the moments. I didn't feel like I did well today with my game against her.

Q. You're here in the U.S. playing the U.S., but there were so many Ukrainian flags in the crowd. What were your feelings on the fans and the crowd?

KATARINA ZAVATSKA: Yeah, it was amazing that I didn't feel like it was more support for USA. I didn't feel like that. I felt good that Ukrainian people support us. I saw many flags, like we play for Ukraine. Also, yeah, the papers they wrote, they draw. Yeah, felt the support.

Sometimes my eyes were a little bit (indiscernible) all over the place and I could not focus. Also it's my first singles match on the Billie Jean Cup, Fed Cup. I just need some time to adapt.

I think tomorrow it will be much better, as today it was a practice match I think for me (smiling).

Q. To Dayana's match, what was going through your mind watching her battle? What goes through your mind on the sidelines? It's a team competition.

KATARINA ZAVATSKA: Well, she was playing really well. I thought it was such a good match from her, from Dayana. Of course, a little few points there, few points there. The tiebreak was just amazing. Also the second set with the comeback, but not fully.

Well, I was feeling a little bit stressed being on the side because, yeah, the score was very tight. I just supported her as much as I could.

I was not on her match like full time, but I watched from my locker room also the match. Yeah, definitely I felt that it was a good and hard match for her also like with the conditions and the court.

But she did well. I think a good match before tomorrow.

Q. How do you regroup for tomorrow to gear up most likely Ali tomorrow? What will you do tonight in preparation for tomorrow?

KATARINA ZAVATSKA: Well, at the beginning we were already preparing that I will play Alison and Dayana will play Pegula. As the draw went different way, the first day I was playing against her. Basically we were talking about how I will play against Alison all these days (smiling).

I think I'm more or less prepared already because I saw the match, I know what to expect. We will, yeah, double talk it today, this evening, with the team, yeah, to just finish the preparation, to go tomorrow for the fight.