BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 12, 2022

Alicia Molik

Storm Sanders

Samantha Stosur

Ajla Tomljanovic

Emirates Arena

Team Australia

Press Conference

SANDERS-STOSUR/Barnett-Nicholls

7-6, 6-7, 10-6

Team Australia - 2

Team Great Britain - 1

THE MODERATOR: Alicia, congratulations. You are in the final. Suffering, but you're there. Well deserved. What are your thoughts?

CAPTAIN MOLIK: It was a great contest today. I think that's what I'm most proud of is we needed to fight from the first match, the second, right through until the last point of the doubles, and we sustained. It was pretty awesome tennis there in the end.

I think today Australia really showed our fighting spirit. I mean, we are going to bring it tomorrow too. It's exciting.

THE MODERATOR: Ajla, were you surprised with Harriet's display today, or do you feel you didn't find your own level?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: I don't want to say surprised, because everyone can play great tennis. I do think she played some of the best that I have seen her play against me. You know, I happened to not play my best, and that's kind of what happens.

Yeah, I was very disappointed, but I knew that we were in good hands. Yeah, these matches just kind of, you feel it way more than other losses, but when you come out on top as a team, I feel very proud to be part of this team, because today was incredible by Storm and Sam.

THE MODERATOR: Sam, the Brits didn't have anything to lose. Did that change anything in your approach? Was the pressure more on the side of the Aussies?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I don't know. I didn't really feel we had more pressure than them going into that last match. I think it's even. They showed that they were up to the task and fighting hard and bringing the best that they have got, and we were trying to do exactly the same.

Obviously you feel like you should win. I think every team feels that when they go out there. We just tried to play our best and go after it and play aggressive. I think it was a great match. Almost could have gone either way. But I think our experience in the end is what paid off. We knew that going into that match that we had more experience, and we backed ourselves and it paid off. That's what we are most happy with.

THE MODERATOR: Storm, how are you physically after the first singles? Some moments with some medical concerns and playing the doubles as well, how are you feeling ahead of tomorrow?

STORM SANDERS: No, I'm feeling good, actually. I pulled up pretty good after my singles, and I was ready for doubles. It was a long doubles match, pretty intense, but I feel good.

I'll recover tonight, we'll get some treatment, and just rest. I think the final is at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow so have the morning to kind of, yeah, rest and get ready. I'm ready, super pumped and proud of this team. It's awesome. Kind of use the high from today to keep going for tomorrow. We are in the final, and I feel like, yeah, let's give it everything tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Alicia, words for both Switzerland and Czech Republic about a possible opponent tomorrow.

CAPTAIN MOLIK: Look, I don't know, but we will be watching tonight. It's something our team like to do is know a lot of information about their opponents. I'm sure we will be having some Japanese and have the videos on and watching and scouting. It's important to us to really know our opponents well.

I don't think there is a favorite team you prefer to play in this competition. I feel like for Great Britain, I almost wish for them, they are playing so well, I wish they were in the other half. It would have been fun to meet them in the final. But I think it's going to be really level in this next semifinal that's being played right now between the Czechs and Switzerland.

I mean, Switzerland always show how good they are, as well. You know, in big events like Billie Jean King Cup and the Olympics, they really step up. I wouldn't be surprised if either team win, to be honest with you. Their level is great.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Storm, obviously your singles performance this week was incredible. Ajla, the other day, said if you focus fully on the singles, you might have a lot more success.

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: I really want her to do that.

Q. Heather earlier, as well, just in the press conference said your returning was amazing. Two questions: Are you thinking of following Ajla's advice? And do you think your returning is the best part of your game?

STORM SANDERS: Yeah, in terms of the singles/doubles stuff, yeah, I've got to kind of sit down and reflect on this past year. It's been an amazing year. I have achieved a lot of career goals of mine in doubles. Yeah, I love playing doubles.

I guess for me when I came back in 2018 I was injured for a full year, and I didn't think I was ever going to play singles again. For me to be playing well in singles, it's a huge bonus. Yeah, I need to kind of sit back and reflect and work out my schedule for next year.

The returning, I don't know, I just love returning, honestly. For me, it's fun. It's like my favorite shot. I just try and react and be aggressive, and that's my game style. Yeah, I mean, I hit some good returns today in singles and doubles. Yeah, it was fun. But I think just, yeah, my overall game is pretty aggressive. If I am seeing it well, I can return well.

Q. Congratulations. Are you going to be waiting to see how long this tie goes on? In a way, will that be an equalizer for you perhaps, that they will finish at midnight potentially?

CAPTAIN MOLIK: No, I don't think an equalizer, no. I feel like we can win tomorrow. I don't care what time they finish tonight.

I feel like both teams really have depth. The teams that are playing tonight have a lot of depth. Players will be in bed early, but they will be definitely watching the matches.

Q. If not an equalizer, then, it actually works in your favor?

CAPTAIN MOLIK: Yeah, happy, I mean, it's 6:00, we are about to go to dinner. It's perfect for us. This has been a schedule we have been on since we arrived here. All of our matches were early. We have been here longer than any other team, which I believe has paid off.

So, you know, we are really prepared. I think it's a great time for the final tomorrow being a Sunday, and hopefully the crowds are big too. We want as many people in Glasgow to come and support the Aussies, come along and be loud and get right behind us, 2:00 tomorrow. Get some tickets (smiling).

Q. Sam, did you think at the start of the week realistically that you would actually play in the doubles or play any match, or were you kind of secretly half resigned to cheerleading on the bench?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Look, I knew it was a possibility that I may or may not get a run out here. Obviously with Storm and Ellen, they are both far higher ranked than me at the moment. I have had a bit of a rough year results-wise, but one thing I knew going into this week is that I had done everything I could to get myself as ready as possible to play, and if I got called up, then I was going to give it everything I had.

I felt absolutely ready to play and really wanted to get out here. So, yeah, for me to be out there today and win it in a decider with Stormy was an incredible feeling. This is why I've kind of hung around playing a bit. You want moments like this. I wanted to be out there, and I wanted to try and help the team in whatever way I could.

If that's on the court, that's great. If that's cheering from the sideline, then that's okay too. But I was, yeah, prepared for anything and ready to do whatever I could to try and help the team.

Q. Days like this, do they make you think this fantastic career that goes on and on, that you're going to extend it, you could be playing at 40?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Probably not, but, you know, if we do manage to win tomorrow, then that would be an incredible moment. Regardless of anything, we've got today, we've got what we have all just experienced.

I have been pretty lucky to have some pretty incredible moments in my career, and weeks like this and matches like this and days like this is what you play for. You want to be out there amongst it.