BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 11, 2022

Kathy Rinaldi

Coco Gauff

Emirates Arena

Team USA

Press Conference

KEYS-TOWNSEND/Muchova-Pliskova

6-3, 6-3

Team Czech Republic - 2

Team USA - 1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Not the result you guys wanted tonight, but Kathy, if you could just walk through how you felt about the tie today.

CAPTAIN RINALDI: Yeah, well, we knew it was going to be tough. Czech Republic has obviously a very strong roster and a lot of different players they could play.

They came out ready to play today. They competed well. We have to give credit to them. You know, obviously we are disappointed, but we have to give credit to our opponents. They brought it. They were ready and competed extremely well today.

Q. Coco, a tough match for you, as well. I know you have played Katerina a few times in the past and you've had success against her. Did she do anything differently today that maybe surprised you? What did you take away from her game today that maybe had a different result?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, she definitely played well today from the last times I played her, but to be honest, I didn't play my best tennis normally. But I think she played well today. She came out here to fight. I think she has a lot of experience in these situations, so she knew how to handle it.

But it was a learning experience, and I think for the next time I maybe will approach it a little bit differently.

Q. Just your takeaway from your first Billie Jean King Cup experience on the court.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it was really fun. I had a lot of fun. We had a great team. Thank you, Kathy, for having me. I think overall this week was positive. I needed a week like this. Obviously not the result we wanted. We came to win. But it was a positive week overall, I think. I think for the next time, we will do better.