BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 10, 2022

Alicia Molik

Samantha Stosur

Storm Sanders

Team Australia

Emirates Arena

Press Conference

SANDERS-STOSUR/Flipkens-Bonaventure

6-4, 6-3

Team Australia - 3

Team Belgium - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Alicia, second straight year that you have reached the semifinals of this competition. Just wondering if you could compare the feeling this year to what you had last year? We were speaking to Ajla who said there seems like there is way more belief in this team.

CAPTAIN MOLIK: Yeah, and I think the format in particular suits us. The two singles, we have very strong doubles combinations, a number of strong doubles combinations. I think that takes the pressure off our singles players when we need to pick out those that are going to represent us.

There is belief also because we are familiar with the surface here. It's really similar to Prague last year. It's a surface that I think our whole team enjoy to play on. The balls suit us, as well.

I think there is a lot of knowns now, as in the conditions, but it's a format that we really thrive in as a team genuinely.

Q. Storm, do you feel that, as well, like one year on there is more belief in this team?

STORM SANDERS: Yeah, definitely. I feel like last year was maybe a bit more of a surprise that we were in the semifinals given that, yeah, we probably didn't get to play our strongest team on paper with Ajla getting sick and Ash not playing and whatnot.

I guess that just proved that what we have is great and enough and doesn't really matter I feel like in this type of team competition the rankings or what's on the paper. I feel like coming in, our goal, we are not here to participate, we are here to try and win this event.

Everyone on the team, it's a priority for us to win that. Even throughout the year, being an Australian, it's a huge honor to be here and play for our country and we really want to try and do the best we can. So, you know, semifinals is, yeah, a good step, but yeah, we're here for more.

Q. You said on court the other day that it was amazing having your idol, Sam, on the bench supporting you. What was it like playing with her today?

STORM SANDERS: Yeah, it was so much fun. It's the first time me and Sam have played together. We practice together a lot in Melbourne and throughout the tour as well, where we are going. Yeah, it was just surreal, so much fun. We had the best time.

Yeah, it's just really cool, like I said the other day, like having her, I looked over at one point during my match on Tuesday and saw her and it was, Oh, this is kind of weird that Sam is like supporting me (smiling).

You know, kind of always grown up watching her and idolizing her, and now she's there supporting me, which is awesome. To step on-site on the court with her today was so much fun and we really enjoyed it and we played really well, which is awesome.

Q. Sam, how do you compare this team, this Australian team, to some of the others that you have been part of? Does it feel like you have got something special here?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Oh, absolutely. I think every team has been special, but, you know, I didn't play last year and to be back now in the mix after having our final in Perth that we went down, that was a heartbreaking day for all of us who were there, yeah, this is another opportunity for us now.

Like Storm said, we are in the semis, but we definitely want to go further. We do believe that we can go further. Anything can happen in this type of event, but we have certainly shown that we've got the depth of our team. You know, I think Stormy has played some of the best matches of her life in this competition this year, last year.

You know, it's what you play for. You want to play with your teammates on the side and everyone cheering for you. Yeah, I think it brings out the best in all of us. It's enjoyable, it's fun, and I think with that, that's why we do play so well.