BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 5, 2023

Yaroslava Shvedova

Yulia Putintseva

Aruzhan Sagandikova

Anna Danilina

Kazakhstan

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Hello, everyone. Welcome to Seville.

Yulia, how much are you enjoying being here in Seville and how are preparations going for the start of the Finals?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: It's going great, great food, great everything, great city. We're enjoying to be here and preparing for our first match. Yeah, that's pretty much it.

THE MODERATOR: Yaroslava, a lot of people obviously think Kazakhstan is going to do well this week. I imagine you have the same belief and the same belief exists within the whole team?

CAPTAIN YAROSLAVA SHVEDOVA: I didn't hear the beginning. Sorry.

THE MODERATOR: A lot of people have you down as one of the final-seed teams. People think you can do rather well this week. I imagine the same belief exists with you and within the whole team.

CAPTAIN YAROSLAVA SHVEDOVA: Of course we all believe we can do our best, like all the teams that will come here to win it (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: I know the Kazakhstan junior teams are qualified for juniors finals, Billie Jean King Cup junior finals. What's the thought about the strength of Kazakhstan tennis at the minute? Not just at this level but also the junior levels. I know you've been involved in the junior teams as well. Can you say a few words about how strong you think things are in Kazakhstan, how bright the future may look?

CAPTAIN YAROSLAVA SHVEDOVA: Yeah, we had a great year this year, especially juniors. It was nice to be hosting both team qualification and win both girls and boys.

Now girls are starting the same time that we are starting here but playing in Cordoba. Boys unfortunately couldn't qualify for semis, but they are doing great with players. I think that we have a strong future in main Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams.

THE MODERATOR: Yulia, you said you were enjoying the food. What's been your favorite so far?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: Octopus was very good. (Laughter.)

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Aruzhan, what are your feelings for making it to such a big event and have the experience of your teammates?

ARUZHAN SAGANDIKOVA: Yeah, I'm happy to be here. It's good experience for me. I am very proud to be a part of the great team (smiling).

It's big experience. I will do everything to help my team here.

THE MODERATOR: One for Anna, perhaps? I'm sure you're hoping that your team are able to get the job done in singles, but how confident are you as an elite doubles player? If the tie goes to the deciding doubles, how confident are you of getting the job done there?

ANNA DANILINA: Yeah, I'm very confident the girls will do well and release me of the pressure of playing the deciding doubles. Yeah, I've been there before and I played in deciding doubles. I really enjoy it, enjoy the pressure, and yeah, I'll try my best and hope I'll do well.

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: (Indiscernible.)

Q. The Kazakhstan fans are known to be very rowdy and noisy here as fans. Are you expecting any of them to be traveling to Seville and to support you this year?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: Well, I would say that they are artists, as well. Not like noisy, because there are some fans that they are really noisy. But they are like artists. They are making music.

Yeah, I think they are doing a great job. Cannot say that they are like noisy, noisy. (Laughter.)

CAPTAIN YAROSLAVA SHVEDOVA: We are expecting them, and they always come to support us. They even create songs for each of us, so it's nice and it's nice to be not at home but have, like, home support.

Q. We love the ambience they add to the stands. We're looking forward to having them. Best of luck this week.

CAPTAIN YAROSLAVA SHVEDOVA: Thank you.