BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 9, 2023

Alicia Molik

Storm Hunter

Ellen Perez

Team Australia

Press Conference

HUNTER-PEREZ/Putintseva-Danilina

6-1, 4-6, 10-5

Team Australia - 2

Team Kazakhstan - 1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. A question for Ellen. Congrats on the win. Storm was telling us the other day about her sort of whirlwind journey over from Cancun. I was wondering if you could do the same, just sort of talk through what the last few days have been like for you and just how you managed to prepare for this match and get the win.

ELLEN PEREZ: Yeah, it's been a crazy few days, for sure. Obviously it's a big trip over from there. Yeah, to be here and to be able to play is all I was really happy about.

Yeah, just different conditions. It's nice to be in indoors and have a still ball kind of thing. Yeah, that's the most important part (smiling).

Q. Alicia, congrats. What was your message to the team at the start of the day going into this must-win tie?

CAPTAIN ALICIA MOLIK: Yeah, well, it was all or nothing, do or die. We had to, I think, just about win -- we were just calculating it now -- every rubber. We knew that.

I think sometimes, you know, it's exactly nice to know what it is it's going to take for your team to win. I'm incredibly proud of the way that Storm stepped out for our team. She's just made a real habit of that when she plays for Australia, you know (smiling). It's such a quiet confidence that I have on the side of the court, and she's a great team leader. Incredibly proud.

Even in the doubles right now. It was just amazing the way that Ellen and Storm took to the court. You know, their intensity. Stormy, after her singles, as well. Really, really difficult match. But just goes to show the quality of player they both are. Yeah, and the way that they gelled today. That was world-class doubles on display. I hope everyone really enjoyed watching the Aussies play.

Q. Storm, congrats as well. I'm curious, has your luggage arrived? Everyone on the Internet was very concerned about that. How is the body holding up as well after an intense few days?

STORM HUNTER: Yeah, my luggage did arrive. Actually, Laura Siegemund picked it up from the airport for me as she was getting in late from Cancun. She thought it was her bag, because obviously I wasn't there, and then she checked the label and saw it had my name. She called me, and was very lovely that she brought my bags to the hotel.

Yeah, that was after our tie on Tuesday night. I was really lucky to get my bags, which was great.

Yeah, I'm a bit tired now. It's probably more emotionally draining, I think, putting everything on the line for your country. Yeah, physically I feel pretty good. But emotionally, yeah, it was a tough two matches today and glad we could get the win.

Yeah, hopefully we have a sneaky chance to get through. I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow, but yeah, it's just been a pleasure playing under Mol if this is her last tie. I'm going to get emotional now...

CAPTAIN ALICIA MOLIK: You don't need to, Stormy, Champion. It's been amazing.

STORM HUNTER: Yeah, just wanted to make her proud and everyone else on the team proud.

CAPTAIN ALICIA MOLIK: You do. You do. All the time (smiling).

Q. Alicia, a bit awkward not knowing whether you're through or not, but if this is your last press conference as the captain, I was just wondering if you could say a few words about what this has meant to you over the last ten years and your sort of message for the team going forward.

CAPTAIN ALICIA MOLIK: Yeah. Well, I'm pretty lucky, pretty fortunate to have experienced a few Finals over the last couple of years. Women's tennis in Australia has been, from a team's perspective, in a really strong position.

In my tenure in the last 10 years, we went from having a No. 4 in the world in Sam Stosur to a No. 1 in the world in singles in Ash Barty. Ash started her career and finished her career under my tenure. We have another No. 1 in Storm Sanders. Ellen's hit one of the highest points in her doubles career, as well. It's in an incredibly healthy spot.

For me, it was always a highlight playing for Australia. I had the fortune of playing alongside Nicole Pratt, who I have had the pleasure of working with the last 10 years. We have been friends for probably 25 years.

Rennae Stubbs, have played with Sam Stosur, Casey Dellacqua. A really thick group of strong women, strong identities, and strong role models. My memories aren't just as a captain; they're as a player. A lot of those relationships in Fed Cup at the time helped form who I was as a player. They are always the friendships that I relied on through the tour years.

I feel like that's what the players have now amongst each other, but that's something that they have created, a real credit to themselves. I'm not here with team success without the wider group and our team of staff. You know, they give everything for the players.

You know, it's a real privilege to be involved with this group of women, because, you know, I really reflect on a lot of other nations. I don't think that the relationships are as thick as what they are within the Australian team.

It's true and it's honest. Sometimes we have to take stock of that too, because, you know, often it's the memories of Fed Cups and Billie Jean King Cups that stick in my mind the strongest, you know, when I think about the tour. I'm retired now from playing, but when I think about all the most important or most enjoyable times that I had were always amongst the team. A lot of fun, funny times.

So I'm lucky to have those. That will live on. I'm not going anywhere. You know, I'll still be big supporters of these women, because they are genuine. They're very good friends of mine. You know, I just can't wait to see what's in store for them.

But I have given it everything. I feel really content moving on, because there is also a next stage for me too, but I have given everything I feel that I possibly could have also.

Q. A colleague of mine just said that you said you have small chances that you could still get to the semifinals.

CAPTAIN ALICIA MOLIK: We don't know. We have to check with the referee.

Q. Cool. I checked, and I think there aren't any chances.

CAPTAIN ALICIA MOLIK: Might just double-check. Might just double-check. Thank you.

Q. Yeah, sorry, but...

CAPTAIN ALICIA MOLIK: You don't have to be sorry. We just want to double-check. Cross-check, yeah.

What was your question? You didn't come here to tell us we're out, did you?

Q. No, my question would have been how would this be possible? If your calculations are different than mine, I was wondering if you could tell me what your calculations are.

CAPTAIN ALICIA MOLIK: I have just been tired from being involved in all the matches, so I just want to triple cross-check with the referee team. You're probably right, but stranger things have happened (smiling).