UNITED CUP

January 4, 2023

David Witt

Jessica Pegula

Taylor Fritz

Madison Keys

Frances Tiafoe

Team USA

Press Conference

Team USA - 4

Team Great Britain - 1

THE MODERATOR: Team USA, congratulations on advancing. David, perhaps you could give some overall observations from the tie.

CAPTAIN WITT: It was a great day. They went out and fought hard. Everybody got it done. Played some great mixed doubles. Jess played great. Frances had a battle. It was a good day.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. To the ladies, Jess, your solid performance there. Your thoughts. And Madison, how concerned were you as that match was progressing? Got out of it pretty smartly in the end?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, my match was great. I played really well. There's not really much to say. I was seeing the ball really well. I came out strong and finished strong.

Yeah, I don't know. There's not really much to say about my match.

MADISON KEYS: I feel like my match was like four days ago at this point.

JESSICA PEGULA: It really does feel like three days ago.

MADISON KEYS: I came out not playing super well and found a way to get into the match. I don't think I ever really found my top level, but I figured it out and I started playing a lot smarter and managed to get it done.

Q. Taylor, a tough defeat, but another good sort of minutes I guess or another good experience and another good opportunity to sort of see where your level is at.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I thought the level of the singles match was pretty high. I thought of all the times we've played, like 13 now, that was probably the highest-level match we've had.

Yeah, it sucks to lose it. Up a break in the third, I feel like from that position I should just be able to serve it out. But it is what it is. I definitely still think I'm playing well. Then, you know, came back and went in for mixed and we played a good mixed doubles match. It's a good end to the day.

Q. Jess, in terms of being able to make it through, bounce back from that Kvitova opening match, and just progressively lock in your tennis, how are you feeling your game is progressing as we head to the final four?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, it was weird. Playing Petra the first match of the season was tough, especially on these courts when it's pretty fast. Then having three days off I definitely felt a little weird.

Even just winning the first mixed doubles match and then being able to win all the next four matches definitely gives me a lot of confidence. I'm glad I got to play back-to-back days, which is always nice, and get the win.

On today, obviously I felt great today, but every day is a different day, so we will see. Yeah, I feel good going into the semis, for sure.

Q. So you are at an advantage because the other teams are catching a flight tomorrow. What do you think about it? If you are planning to do something around the city, what are your plans for tomorrow?

JESSICA PEGULA: I'm definitely not coming to the site tomorrow.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I think all of us are going to take it easy tomorrow. Today is a super long day. Yeah, it probably is an advantage. They're going to have to fly and then play here. Maybe the courts are a little bit different, but also we have been playing here for the past week so we'll see. I also thought our group was extremely tough.

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, hopefully we use it to our advantage, if it's an advantage.

Q. You guys are not gonna do some walking around?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Hell, no.

JESSICA PEGULA: Does it look like he's going to walk anywhere besides transport? Maybe breakfast. That might be tough.

MADISON KEYS: Late breakfast.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Maybe go to EzyMart and get some Hersheys, but other than that... (laughter).