BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 8, 2023

Marina Stakusic

Team Canada

Press Conference

M. STAKUSIC/R. Masarova

6-3, 6-1

Team Canada - 1

Team Spain - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congratulations on the victory. Impressive performance. What are your feelings after the match? What did you feel that went right in order to make such an impressive match?

MARINA STAKUSIC: I think definitely the support from all the Canadians really helped me today. It motivated me to just give my best and stay composed the whole match. I think my composure was a big, was really important for me today, and I'm glad I was able to stay calm during the match.

Q. Wonderful performance. You have had a wonderful year this year, and it's culminated tonight. If you rewound six months, did you think you'd be here?

MARINA STAKUSIC: Definitely not. I mean, this year I actually started, in January, started off with an injury, so I didn't play from January until July. I didn't play a tournament.

So I did not think I'd be here right now at all (smiling). But I think that whole injury just, like, motivated me to come back stronger than when I left.

Q. What was the injury?

MARINA STAKUSIC: A tear in my knee.

Q. When you got the call to be here, could you just sum up your emotions? Where were you at the time when you got the call, the text, whatever it was?

MARINA STAKUSIC: Yeah, I was actually at a tournament, an ITF tournament in Berkeley. It was right after I won that tournament. Heidi called me and she told me, Oh, we really want you on the team. You deserve it. You've earned your spot.

I was just so happy. It's something that's always been a goal of mine. I was really, really excited. Happy, like, all the emotions.

Q. You have just beaten the world No. 65. Career best win. Wonderful performance. That very moment when you won, can you describe your emotions at that point?

MARINA STAKUSIC: Yeah, I mean, it was like super special just to win in front of, like, all of the team that's here with me, all the Canadians who I have worked with for a long time, a bunch of them.

It was just such a special feeling. It's definitely probably the most meaningful win so far for me.

Q. You said on your TV interview, "I belong here." Do you think this is a win that is very important in your career? Does it reinforce in your mind that you belong at this level against this sort of opposition?

MARINA STAKUSIC: Yeah, absolutely. I think it gives me so much confidence now going forward. Just with the way that I played, this win, all of it, yeah.

Q. Obviously team competition and you are here with the likes of Eugenie Bouchard, with Leylah, who have more experience throughout this competition. After such a big year with such a big leap in the rankings, what are you soaking in, it being a team environment? What are you learning? What advice or anecdotes are they sharing with you that help you to go through and make another push to winning this tournament?

MARINA STAKUSIC: Actually, before this match, Leylah came up to me and told me some stuff just from her experience playing here. She told me just enjoy the moment, play your game, like, and just have fun.

I really used that. I took that in with me in this match. And yeah, I mean, all the girls, I'm definitely learning a lot from them. They are obviously more experienced than I am. But yeah, it's such a great team to be around. They are all super nice. Yeah.

Q. Also, I think you won your first ITF tournament, I don't know if this year, in Valladolid, in Spain. Is there something about Spain that's making you play this way?

MARINA STAKUSIC: I don't know what it is, but I guess I like the energy in Spain, the vibes, I don't know. But I always enjoy coming to Spain. It's such a nice country. Great food, great people. It's amazing.