BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 11, 2022

Katerina Siniakova

Emirates Arena

Team Czech Republic

Press Conference

K. SINIAKOVA/C. Gauff

7-6, 6-1

Team Czech Republic - 2

Team USA - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Congratulations. Great match. How important was that first set in the outcome of the match?

KATERINA SINIAKOVA: Thank you. I mean, it really helped me, because I think I had a lot of chances during the set, so of course it's made me -- you know, it just helped me I won the set, because I was kind of trying to think that we still have 1-0 up, so I don't need to win.

I think it helped me overall, but I had a lot of chances, so it helped me a lot, for sure.

Q. You had lost to Coco in your last three matches against her. What was different today? What made the difference?

KATERINA SINIAKOVA: Well, I knew that, but I was trying not to think about it, because, you know, the last matches she had she didn't really play her best tennis, so I was just thinking, you know, I will go there, I will fight, and in the end it was really great match from me.

Q. Semifinals tomorrow against Switzerland. You have already beaten the favorites for many in the USA, so I guess you will be just as confident against the Swiss?

KATERINA SINIAKOVA: Of course, I mean, it's going to be another tough matches, but I am ready. I mean, I love to play for my country, so I will just try to show the best tennis I can that day. We have something -- I mean, last year we lost, so this year of course we will fight and we want to take it back.

Q. When did you find out that you were playing singles today? Do you have any inkling about what your captain might do tomorrow?

KATERINA SINIAKOVA: I knew it yesterday evening. For tomorrow, even if I would know it, I will not tell you (smiling).

Q. But would you tell me if you did know it now?

KATERINA SINIAKOVA: Yeah, if I would know it, I guess I would not tell it anyway (smiling).

Q. Congratulations on the win today. You have played a lot of doubles matches recently. Can you just talk us through your mindset in terms of approaching, playing lots and lots of doubles matches to then becoming the singles in the No. 1 slot for your team?

KATERINA SINIAKOVA: I think I'm really excited how I did play today, because, yeah, for two weeks I didn't play singles (smiling). So I was, like, Okay, let's try it.

But, I mean, it was really nice to go there, that Marketa won that first match. I was still trying to -- I mean, I was trying to keep telling myself that, I mean, I don't need to win, because we are the one who is leading. And I think it really helped me.

I had a lot of great matches in singles, and I knew I can do it. So I was just fighting. In the end, I mean, I play better, so I'm really happy it went this way.