UNITED CUP

December 28, 2022

Stan Wawrinka

Belinda Bencic

Jil Teichmann

Marc-Andrea Huesler

Ylena In-Albon

Dominic Stricker

Alexander Ritschard

Joanne Zuger

Team Switzerland

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to Brisbane. How excited and ready are you to play the United Cup, such a unique event together?

JOANNE ZUGER: I'm happy to be on the team, excited to be here and cheer for everyone. Yeah, I'm super excited to be here.

DOMINIC STRICKER: Yeah, I'm happy to be here with a great team, great players. Looking forward to a great week.

YLENA IN-ALBON: I'm super happy to be here, too. I'm sure I can learn a lot from these guys. I will try to support in any possible way I can. Super happy to get it started tomorrow.

ALEXANDER RITSCHARD: Yeah, I mean, me, too. I'm super happy to be here. It's my first time in Australia. I'm super happy to be here with the people on this team, excited to see what's going to happen.

JIL TEICHMANN: I'm happy to be here. Really looking forward for this new event. It's not happening a lot lately that we have new format. Yeah, looking forward. Really honored and glad to be on this Swiss team. I think we came with all the players we had.

CAPTAIN WAWRINKA: Yeah, super happy like everybody. I think we have a great team. It's a new event, first time for me to play a mixed event. I think it's a super cool format. We are super excited to start the match tomorrow. I have full confidence in my team.

BELINDA BENCIC: I think it's a really cool format. Once again, I'm super excited to represent Team Switzerland. Also with a mixed event, it's very nice to play a mixed event.

MARC-ANDREA HUESLER: Yeah, well, like everyone said, I'm also very happy obviously. But I think it's a really awesome way to start off the year, being able to practice here, have matches. Also basically being in a mixed format for the first time is something new for us all, almost all of us. No, I'm really looking forward to it. I'm sure we're going to have great matches.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. There seems to be something about when you represent Switzerland, it brings out the best in you. Not every player elevates their game when they play for their country because there's pressure. What is behind that? What makes you play so well when you represent Switzerland?

BELINDA BENCIC: No, I mean, it's something about it. I think for me it's an honor to represent Team Switzerland. I feel like it's a different feeling when I step on the court. I don't just play for myself. Somehow I manage to bring a little bit more out of me. Maybe it's because I just feel like I'm also playing for something bigger than myself.

Yeah, I mean, I'm excited to play every team event there is. Even I think I should not return to the normal tour and just play this (smiling).

Q. Stan, did you see Belinda and Jil's celebration when they won Billie Jean King Cup? Have you talked to them about it?

CAPTAIN WAWRINKA: Not yet, but we going to have a meeting about that. There is some copyright to pay (smiling).

I think it's great. What they did was amazing, watched them play, winning the Fed Cup was really something special. We've been there, so we know the feeling. It's amazing what they did. Congratulations to them.

Q. Stan, as maybe the most experienced player on the team, is it an opportunity for you to share some of your experiences on the tour, be the leader of the team in that way? Is that a role that you enjoy?

CAPTAIN WAWRINKA: I will see. I will see if they need or if they ask. I'm sure we have amazing players. They don't need much advice.

But I'm looking forward, like I said, to be in this team, to play, to start the competition, to talk about everything in general. I think I can also learn a lot from them.

Like they say, it's always special to be in a team, especially when you represent your country. It's something that I want to play my best, do the best I can. Hopefully I can really help the team.

Q. You all seem to be having a lot of fun just being together. Belinda and Jil, what is it like to have Stan as a captain?

JIL TEICHMANN: We don't know yet. He seems really strict, like picky (laughter).

No, we don't know. For all of us, it's the first time to be in a mixed event. It's cool. I mean, Belinda and I really love to play in a team. We really support each other. We're good friends, as well. I think we always have good vibes.

For sure we will fit in Stan's standards. But I think it's going to be a really fun week. We're a big group. We're a happy team, as we were playing.

Q. Stan, week to week you're able to focus on getting ready for your matches. What is it like being captain? What is it like to have more than just yourself to focus on?

CAPTAIN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it's a new experience for sure. As I say, I think it's going to be really interesting to watch them play from the court, talk with them. At the end of the day they all know what to do. They are great players, they know how to win. I'm just going to be here if they need more help.

But, yeah, it's an interesting format. I'm really happy they select me as a captain. I'm really proud of that. I'm enjoying being really strict against someone who was late today. We are sorry, it was Belinda. It's going to be the last time we're going to be late (laughter).

No, I think the competition start tomorrow for us and it's going to be really interesting.

Q. Are you going to prepare any motivational speeches?

CAPTAIN WAWRINKA: I don't need to prepare them.