BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 9, 2023

Sofia Kenin

Team USA

Press Conference

S. KENIN/V. Golubic

6-3, 6-7, 7-5

Team Switzerland - 0

Team USA - 2

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congratulations. You must be thrilled to seal a point?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, I'm super happy. It meant a lot to me. Especially it's Kathy's last tie. I wanted to get the win more for her than for myself.

Yeah, I'm really happy with the level I played. She obviously played some unbelievable tennis. I'm just super proud of myself.

Q. Was there a physical issue at one stage? Are you feeling okay? Recovered from that?

SOFIA KENIN: No, I was just getting a little bit tight in my arm and legs. Nothing serious. I'm feeling great. I'm super pumped and ready to go. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Q. Big day tomorrow. Czechia. Winner takes all. I suppose these are the ties that you want to be playing in?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, I mean, obviously it's going to be a great day tomorrow. Hopefully Team USA can get the win. We'll see the lineup for tomorrow. Yeah, I'm going to be cheering loud and hopefully, "Let's go, Team."

Q. In such a roller-coaster win, you have match points up, match points down. You save it. How did you do it mentally to regroup after the second set? Is there any secret to it, or it was just keep fighting, keep pushing?

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, honestly just keep fighting. I try do my best by keeping a poker face. At times I definitely wanted to break my racquet, but obviously would never do that.

Yeah, she played some unbelievable tennis. There is nothing much I could have done. I really gave it all.

Yeah, bathroom break, just had to regroup myself, because of course had match points and you can, like, tend to go down on yourself, so I managed to pick myself back up. Kathy helped me. Everyone, Team USA helped me and I couldn't have done it without them.

Q. Kind of a comeback year for you. If someone told you 11 months ago when you were out of the top 200 that you would be here 12 months later, just on the verge of breaking through in the Billie Jean King Cup, close to the top 30, would you have believed him or believed her?

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, I knew I could do it, but obviously it would have been, like, a dream, basically. I'm just honestly honored and grateful for the year I have been having and the level I have been playing.

Especially now, you know, it's end of the year. Obviously people can tend to go down. Obviously everyone wants a little break, but I'm pushing through. I'm going to do everything I can. I have proven it today. You know, all thanks to Kathy, doing it for her.

Q. Did you feel like maybe flying under the radar this year, you know, after being, as I told you, maybe down in the rankings? Maybe the spotlight is on other players? Do you feel that has helped you, boosted you, that you have maybe something to prove this year?

SOFIA KENIN: Probably, yeah, for sure. Obviously like to have the spotlight, so was very feisty, eager to get back up there. Definitely feel like I'm getting more attention now. I definitely feel like I deserve that.

You know, with my injuries, of course I went down a bit in rankings, but I'm back up there. I'm fighting. Everyone knows I'm back. So I'm proud of myself (smiling).