UNITED CUP

December 29, 2022

Vincenzo Santopadre

Lorenzo Musetti

Team Italy

Press Conference

L. MUSETTI/F. Meligeni Alves

6-3, 6-4

Brazil - 1

Italy - 1

THE MODERATOR: How are you feeling for today's matches and how they went?

CAPTAIN SANTOPADRE: I think they were able to fight every single point, both. We just wanted to expect this. For us, we spoke together with the guys, the atmosphere is good in the team, and I think that's the most important thing. They are trying to enjoy the competition. We know, of course, we are here to do our best, to do the best performance we can.

I think, for example, that Martina, of course she lost 2-0, it's a score that is really heavy, but I think she tried to fight every single point. The first set was not so bad, it was closer than the score was saying.

I really liked Lorenzo's match because he played really solid. In a certain way in the second set he was a little bit in trouble because Meligeni had the great comeback. He had to face some tough moments.

Like he's doing in the last few years, he did really a great job. Wasn't so simple. Wasn't so easy to come back because he was really winning quite easy, 3-1. He have a chance with two breaks. After 15 minutes, 4-3 down, tough game of serve.

The last three games he played really, really well, solid. I think he did a great job.

THE MODERATOR: Lorenzo, how did you feel out there?

LORENZO MUSETTI: I mean, as Vincenzo said, was not an easy win 'cause I played really good, I started really good. At the beginning was going everything easy, especially the serve, serving really good. I was a break up in the second set. Maybe I had the chances to get the double break. I didn't get it.

But it's really fast here, the conditions. You have to be really worried and always watch out because everything can happen.

He was coming back. He was returning good at certain point of the second set, and I didn't serve my best. He broke me. I had to watch out and try to fight more.

As Vincenzo said, we are a good team. We have a nice atmosphere. We are enjoying a lot even the off-court moments. I think it's the best way to experience this kind of competition. I'm happy to be part of this team and I'm happy to bring the first point for Italian team.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Lorenzo, you talked about the atmosphere with the team. How much do you like the team having the men and women supporting you?

LORENZO MUSETTI: Yeah, I mean, it's fun because it's something that you cannot feel like every day in our sport. It's an individual sport. I think, like Davis Cup, like United Cup, or last year ATP Cup, there are some kind of competition that I think the players really have fun. They show their best tennis because you don't play for yourself, you play for your country, you represent your people. It's even more respectful.

Sometimes can be heavier because you have a lot of weight on your shoulder, but I think if you share with your teammates, then you have a good possibility to play good and to play like today a great match.

Q. Vincenzo, now 1-1 going into the second day. Look ahead to Matteo's match a little bit.

CAPTAIN SANTOPADRE: Before answering this question, I would like to say that for me, Lorenzo, the other man of the team, it's a really tough team to share some moments. With Matteo with the girls, is always tough. Every time we are missing a word, they are able to focus, if we miss something.

LORENZO MUSETTI: Anything. Especially not Matteo, but the girls, they're putting pressure on the captain.

CAPTAIN SANTOPADRE: Especially with you.

LORENZO MUSETTI: Always with the young one.

CAPTAIN SANTOPADRE: But he's tough. For him was really easy to play today because he was already practicing on tough moments with the girls.

No, seriously about the match of tomorrow, we know that playing the first match since long time, first singles match since long time for Matteo, will be not easy. But he is here to do his best.

We can't change the thing, because if he doesn't play singles since long time, last match was with Lorenzo, of course beginning of the match he has to try to find the rhythm. But I think he had some good practice here and also, like, in the off-season.

He wants to play. He wants to have fun. He likes to play team matches. Of course, there is an opponent that is tough because Matteo played against him in Rio, won a tough match.

I think he has to focus on himself and enjoy, like I said, the moments. It's good that he wants to play. The conditions are really fast, the court is really fast. I think he will perform well.

Q. Lorenzo, how do you experience being the second player up? You're watching Martina, she's playing. There's maybe the instinct that you want to support your teammate, but then you have to prepare to play. Do you find that a stressful experience? Do you block out the first match? Are you watching and following?

LORENZO MUSETTI: That's tough moment. It's a great question. After I think it was like 3-2 or 4-1, I don't remember, the first set, I had to go because I had to prepare myself. It's kind of leaving my heart there, like dividing myself.

But, of course, I needed my routine to prepare the best match. I was always following the score, following Martina results. But I think also her, she knows that I was there, like, cheering for her with my whole heart.

I think it's nice to share good moments in the bench and off the bench. It's important even for other guys who don't feel like disrespect on that. It's just focusing on your match and focusing on winning the match, the most important thing.