UNITED CUP

January 2, 2023

Agnieszka Radwanska

Iga Swiatek

Hubert Hurkacz

Team Poland

Press Conference

SWIATEK-HURKACZ/Kulambayeva-Lomakin

6-3, 6-4

Team Poland - 4

Team Kazakhstan - 1

THE MODERATOR: Aga, how impressed have you been with your team's performances over the last two days?

CAPTAIN RADWANSKA: Well, I was very happy to see everybody playing really good tennis, and of course I'm happy with the score today. First match is always tricky, always different conditions in other places. Well, so far so good.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I'd like to ask you about your mixed doubles match at the end there. We saw you practicing the other day and going through mixed doubles drills. How do you feel that prepared you for tonight? What was it like combining and playing a competitive match together?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Definitely, definitely, no, it helped us a bit to understand each other on the court, to work out some patterns, and see how each of us react to different positions. Yeah, it was good.

IGA SWIATEK: Nothing to add, honestly. I'm pretty happy that I have a chance to also practice with Hubi, because playing mixed doubles is so different rhythm, and I haven't been playing doubles the whole season basically last year, so I'm a little bit rusty. But, you know, having Hubi on my side, it's really helpful, and his game is so powerful that we can really put pressure on our opponents, and hopefully we will do that in future matches.

Q. And the shot of you hitting that winner around the net post is already going crazy on social media. Everyone really likes it. In your career, where does that shot fit for you in terms of the best hot shot you've ever played?

IGA SWIATEK: I guess it's for the people to judge, but I tried it couple of times in practice and it didn't work out, so even I'm surprised, you know, but...

CAPTAIN RADWANSKA: You didn't play mixed doubles in practice, that's why.

IGA SWIATEK: That's true, that's true.

I don't know. I don't know. You've got to ask people where is the ranking. Aga is a specialist in hot shots. I guess you could make a ranking grade, right?

CAPTAIN RADWANSKA: For sure that was a good one, but you cannot really say the best because you want to do even better, right?

IGA SWIATEK: I mean, always.

CAPTAIN RADWANSKA: Always, exactly. I know you're so powerful right now, but for sure that was one of the best.

Q. Aga, compared to when you were on the plane flying here, what's the whole experience been for you being in the team zone, help coach, and cheering them on?

CAPTAIN RADWANSKA: It's for sure different experience. Happy to be kind of on tour again, only on the bench but happy with that, and see others playing great tennis.

You know, it's always like a deja vu, especially that there are still players that I played myself against, so it's also good to see them in action with Iga and Hubi. Also tomorrow will be an interesting one. I was playing with Belinda so many times, so now it's Iga's turn.

Q. What makes you more nervous, when you would be on court playing in the matches or being on the bench and having to watch from the sideline?

CAPTAIN RADWANSKA: From my experience watching is always the worst. You're always nervous. I remember also watching my sister playing, and especially when it's tight.

So I think today the most important match was Hubi's match. It was a lot of things going on on the court, so that was interesting one.

But, you know, I'm really enjoying it, and especially in that we can be all together. We don't have many chances to be all together on one side of the court and cheer for each other and really have fun.

So that's a great experience to be here and happy that Australia is doing every year something like this, starting from the Hopman Cup, ATP Cup, and now we have United Cup.

Q. Hubi, you said on court it was a high-quality match, and you're used to having CB on the bench there with you from ATP Cup. What was it like having Aga there to help you?

HUBERT HURKACZ: It was great. It was adding some experience and energy. So, you know, definitely the girls carried our team, and so it's really good.

Q. Maybe we could preview the next match against Switzerland because you both won one tie each. So I think the winner goes through, wins the group. Aga, maybe you could preview the tie against Switzerland, and then Hubi and Iga could talk about playing Stan and Belinda because they are both big matches. The upcoming tie against Switzerland, as the captain, what does that present as a challenge?

CAPTAIN RADWANSKA: Well, for sure, I think tomorrow starts the bigger challenge. Well, for sure it's not going to be easy, but definitely we're gonna see a lot of good tennis.

And, well, I can say more after the matches.

Q. Are you confident?

CAPTAIN RADWANSKA: Yes, I am, right (smiling)? I think that's not the question really for me. I'm just sitting there and trying to help, and they are the people who are doing the job, right?

Q. Maybe you could talk about your match with Stan.

HUBERT HURKACZ: First of all, tomorrow Iga is playing, so I just bring my pom-poms and cheer. Then, you know, obviously playing Stan, it's going to be a challenge. He had so much success in the past. Having just practiced with him, never actually we have played against each other. Yeah, it's gonna be fun match. I'm looking forward for the challenge.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, playing against Belinda is always a challenge. I think I will remember our tiebreaker in the US Open that lasted like 22 minutes for rest of my life as a nightmare.

No, I mean, she's such an experienced player, and she has different game style than most of the girls. She's hitting the ball pretty early and you have to be ready for that, especially on a fast surface. So, yeah, I hope I'm gonna be able to use the experience that I have, and for sure we are going to prepare tactically. We'll see. It's the second match of the season, so you never know, but I'm gonna do everything to win.