BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 10, 2022

Tathiana Garbin

Team Italy

Emirates Arena

Press Conference

DABROWSKI-FERNANDEZ/Paolini-Bronzetti

6-1, 6-1

Team Canada - 3

Team Italy - 0

THE MODERATOR: Tathiana, first, very tough group for you, tough opponents, but this is the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, and this is what is expected. What's your general analysis or balance of Italy at these finals?

CAPTAIN GARBIN: Yeah, first of all, we have to say the true. We are in a group with very tough teams, so we knew was very tough.

Unfortunately, Camila Giorgi, she's not here with us. It's important player on my team.

Overall I was thinking that we have to watch, as I say yesterday, a little bit forward and think about future. Have very young player, they are starting to be on tour, on this kind of tour, so I'm proud of my team. I'm proud of my players.

They refuse to give up, as I say yesterday. They are still working very hard to improve their tennis and their objective in tennis.

THE MODERATOR: How much of a way of helping them for their development is to be part of Italy in this Billie Jean King Cup Finals? Especially the way Cocciaretto, for instance, has played her game these last two days? I guess the experience brings something extra for them and will help them in that development as well?

CAPTAIN GARBIN: You are exactly right. For Cocciaretto, it's very important to step up in this kind of event. For example, is true was she was 5-2 up yesterday and 5-2 up today, but the difference between yesterday and today is the way she behaved. She tried to do a little bit thing more aggressive, is what we ask, me and her coach, and she did with very, with the high focus on what she has to do.

I like it, because this building her trust, and I think for the next level of tennis, she has to just believe in herself a little bit more and do what we ask or what the game plan is. She was sticking with the game plan, and today I think something changed. Today was very difficult match for her, but she deserved to stay here in this group and growing up with her tennis.

THE MODERATOR: Next stop is qualifiers in April for Italy. Will you be checking on the draw on Sunday to see who you will be playing then?

CAPTAIN GARBIN: No, we will see. We will see. I'm glad to play in Italy, because our supporters are very strong in Italy. So the only thing I ask is to play at home (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions online.

Q. Tathiana, sort of a funny, difficult question, but what do you say to a player like Trevisan when Fernandez is playing so well?

CAPTAIN GARBIN: There is nothing much to say. I ask her to change a little bit the game. The beginning she was too much close to the baseline, and she was hitting the ball a little bit shorter. The opponent, obviously she was playing very good. So the game plan is supposed to lose a little bit of the space but give a little bit more spin, as she play in Roland Garros.

Not easy, because we know very well it's not clay court then. There is not enough time to do the game you would like to develop today.

Wasn't easy, but that was the game plan. She was not able to do. But because our opponent, she played great, absolutely great match.