BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 10, 2022

Bianca Andreescu

Team Canada

Emirates Arena

Press Conference

B. ANDREESCU/E. Cocciaretto

7-6, 6-3

Team Canada - 1

Team Italy - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You talked earlier in the week about your return to this competition being long overdue. How good did it feel to come through a match like that for your country?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, it's great. I think I played great tennis, especially coming back from being 5-2 down. The support from everyone that are in the stands, my cheerleaders from Canada, I'm glad that they came down. Without their support, I don't know if I could have pulled the win today. So I'm very grateful.

Q. What changed at 5-2?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I kind of like playing when I'm down, so I raised my level somehow. I don't know. There is just like a switch in my brain. I just become more aggressive, so, yeah.

Q. She played over three hours yesterday. Did you see any of that match? Did that give you added confidence?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, I did see some of that match, but, I mean, in the first set and a half she didn't show any tiredness or anything like that. Definitely didn't think she played three hours yesterday the way she came out today.

But towards the end, you know, I just had to just keep with it, because I felt that she -- I mean, she did call medical timeout, so I just had to stay with her.

Q. The Swiss look like they mean business here too. How difficult a contest is that going to be on Friday?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, I think it's going to be tough. I don't think any team here is an easy team per se. But I'm looking forward to it, and whoever I play, hopefully I can win.

Q. If it is Jil Teichmann, you have won your last two matches against her. Is that a good matchup for you?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, she poses great tactics against me because she's lefty. But I feel like I have somewhat of a good read, just having played her the last two times. I think I did well against her, so if I play her, hopefully, you know, I can do well.

Q. When you spoke quite candidly that you almost walked away from the sport, is it events like this that make it all worthwhile?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: 100%. I felt so many emotions today. I got goosebumps sometimes. I mean, I'm always playing for my country, but it's different when it's like a team sport, especially playing with people that you play against that are also from Canada. It's just a different environment. I absolutely love it.

Canada has offered me and my parents so much, so I'm very grateful to play for Canada.

Q. You have had some great results this year in terms of some great wins over top players, in-form players like Samsonova, Kasatkina. Where would you say your level is at this year and coming into this tournament?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: I feel pretty good mentally and physically. I think I'm playing great tennis, but I know that there is a lot more that I can improve on. I don't want to rush into anything. I don't want to have, you know, too high expectations for myself.

So I'm just taking it day by day, and it's a great way to end off the year as well, just bringing back all the emotions that fire a lot in me. I think I'm going to have a great preseason. Next year I really think I can crack the top 10 again.

Q. You have been talking about your serve and how that's something you're tinkering with. Today you won almost 20% more of your first serves in the second set than the first set. Did it feel like a change there or did you just go bigger? What was the change?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Yeah, my serve has definitely been in my worst nightmares. I'm just so happy that I was able to get a good first-serve percentage and obviously a winning percentage. That helps tremendously. So seeing that on the stats is always great.

I know that not every day I can have that, so I'm just staying in the moment now, and hopefully next match I can get the same.

Q. How did it feel to have Sylvain on the bench, getting the band back together kind of. Have you made a decision with any coaching setup going forward?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: No, I haven't made a decision yet, but I have been interviewing some people. So I think I have some great options to choose from, but it's definitely nice to be back with Sylvain. We have worked since, like, 2014 together on and off, and then, you know, he was full time with me basically.

It's really nice, because he knows my game very, very well, and he's a very calm and composed person, which I think I need on my team, because I can get kind of crazy. It's definitely very nice.

Q. You have done well against Jil Teichmann. Do you think there is any chance they play Golubic against you tomorrow instead of Teichmann?

BIANCA ANDREESCU: Maybe. I really can't say. I have no idea. I mean, either way, I'm going to play my best tennis hopefully, give 100%, and, yeah, just play my heart out no matter what.