BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

April 16, 2022

Lyudmyla Kichenok

Nadiia Kichenok

Olga Savchuk

Dayana Yastremska

Katarina Zavatska

Team Ukraine

Press Conference

PEGULA-MUHAMMAD/Kichenok-Yastremska

7-6, 6-3

USA - 3

Ukraine - 2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Captain Olga, talk about the experience of the week, what a great comeback today. Talk about your emotions throughout the day and the week.

CAPTAIN SAVCHUK: Yeah, I mean, it's tough to speak about my emotions right now. It's been every single emotion today on the court. I think we left it all out there.

After yesterday I think the girls did great to perform in both singles. It was so much fire in them during the matches. Of course, the doubles as well.

Actually after the doubles match, I said, I don't know what to say because there was no moment where I would say, Yeah, there you did bad. There are a few points there and there, and I feel that's how the match was decided. It's really unfortunate for us.

But I'm really proud and grateful that I had a chance to be this week with the girls and experience that.

Q. Lyudmyla, how did you feel about your performance today from the team? What happened on the match point? We couldn't tell. Did it hit the net?

LYUDMYLA KICHENOK: Hit the net, then I was a bit confused. But in general I was feeling great. We had such an amazing support. Dayana was playing unbelievable.

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: I wouldn't say so (smiling).

LYUDMYLA KICHENOK: She did. We just gave it all. We fought till the end. Didn't happen.

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: I think they had a little bit more luck today. Even the first set, in the tiebreak, 5-All, it was a great point. Pegula, she played a really nice rally. She made a point with a good quality. She wanted to make a little bit of risk. There was just like this in the net. But it was a great rally.

Yeah, as Olga says, point there, point there. I think we could do better, but anyway we tried our best.

LYUDMYLA KICHENOK: We were playing the first time together.

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: As a team.

LYUDMYLA KICHENOK: I really enjoyed.

Q. Olga, the mindset going into doubles, I can assume why you put Dayana in, but talk us through that process.

CAPTAIN SAVCHUK: We decided together with the team. Also very rare, because normally maybe the captain decides. But we spoke with each of the girls. They wanted to play. I thought it was good idea because they both play really aggressive tennis, both of them, they go for a high risk. I feel that's the key in doubles, especially deciding doubles. Less you think, more you go for it. Yeah, that's how you can win matches. Yeah, that was easy. They fit well together.

Q. Katarina, you had a fantastic singles match today. Yesterday you mentioned you were preparing to play Alison. Today you played Shelby. Did that thwart your plans with your game plan?

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: Sorry to interrupt. I think for Katia yesterday was just a warmup. That's why today she played so great.

CAPTAIN SAVCHUK: Remember the reaction of Katia today when she realized she played Rogers.

KATARINA ZAVTSKA: I was like, What?

Today I was really pumped. I just had so many fire inside of me, like Olga said. I wanted to bring this win for our team. I understood the importance of the match, of today's match. Probably is one of the first matches that I won with such a responsibility, you know? I knew that if I lose, then we lose, that's it. If I would win, then we can have a chance to play doubles and win against USA.

Yeah, it was really fantastic match today, to be honest. I gave it all physically, mentally, emotionally. The crowd was unbelievable. The girls, they supported me so well. Olga, she was there to pump me up every point so that I could go and go and go for it.

I'm really proud of what we did. Also Lyudmyla and Dayana, they played really well.

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: I wouldn't play that well if Katia wouldn't win. She gave us a good chance.

KATARINA ZAVTSKA: Thank you. Me, too. If Dayana didn't win, then for me it would be tough also anyway. I had a really high motivation when she won. I wanted to also.

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: Team spirit.

KATARINA ZAVTSKA: Team spirit. I think we can be proud of ourself, our team, what we achieved this week. We go for the next challenges and we hope that we going to receive a wild card.

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: Yes, that's what I wanted to say (laughter).

CAPTAIN SAVCHUK: Yeah.

KATARINA ZAVTSKA: I don't want to be arrogant, but maybe we deserve this.

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: We are not the ones to decide if we deserve or not, but that would be nice. We appreciate a lot if we can get the opportunity to compete.

KATARINA ZAVTSKA: Yeah, in finals.

Q. Katia, you said yesterday you had trouble focusing because there were so many things going on. Today with the fans, more cheering for you, did you have a better time focusing?

KATARINA ZAVTSKA: Yeah, also about the question they changed from Alison to Shelby Rogers. For me basically I didn't have any plan for the match. We didn't discuss it.

CAPTAIN SAVCHUK: Great from me (laughter).

KATARINA ZAVTSKA: Just five minutes before the match we discussed what she does because I said that for me is better that I just focus on my game and what I can propose with my game to the girl. Then we're going to see during the match, I'm going to see, analyze also what I have to do. I have the team and Olga who can help me.

About the focus? Yeah, today, I don't know, I felt more relaxed before the match. I also visualized a lot how I will be playing today, that I would be more relaxed and go for it also more, that I could achieve that. I was in the zone today. I was playing good.

Q. Olga, what is harder on the heart: being a player or a captain?

CAPTAIN SAVCHUK: Both are hard. I have to say both. Same emotions. But when you're on the bench, you can't let it out. I mean, I could actually today with the singles matches, but in doubles I felt like I have to be more calm, like yeah.

When you play, I feel you can let it out. When you sit, you have to kind of reserve. Even if you're dying inside, you have to show straight face.

Yeah, but both are hard. When you play, of course, you have way more pressure on you.

Q. What did you learn about your players this week?

CAPTAIN SAVCHUK: They are incredible human beings. I mean, they are fighters. They gave their heart today for our country, for our people.

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: Very strange people (laughter).

CAPTAIN SAVCHUK: No, they're also a lot of fun.

Q. Dayana, what did you learn about your teammates this week?

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: What did I learn?

CAPTAIN SAVCHUK: She knew everything (laughter).

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: What did I learn about them?

CAPTAIN SAVCHUK: That Nadiia can sing (laughter).

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: That's true. I have couple of my personal songs. Today first time I saw how Nadiia is singing. She was singing my songs. I think she's very talented. This was my match, all the matches before...

I know the girls already. I don't think I learned something new about them. They're just good, fun girls. It's nice to be in the team with them.

I think this time it was a little bit different team spirit because of everything that is going on around. It was extra cool to be here together and to play, compete here.

When we arrived here, we actually said that no matter how we play, it's already very good that we are here together.

KATARINA ZAVTSKA: Yeah.

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: So the results we made here, I think it's already very good for us. I'm proud of everybody, but not about myself (smiling).

KATARINA ZAVTSKA: You can be proud of yourself.

DAYANA YASTREMSKA: I would be proud if today I could play much better in doubles, but... Yeah, not to be. Next time.