BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 12, 2023

Tathiana Garbin

Martina Trevisan

Jasmine Paolini

Team Italy

Press Conference

L. FERNANDEZ/J. Paolini

6-2, 6-3

Team Canada - 2

Team Italy - 0

THE MODERATOR: We will start with questions in English for the runners-up of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

Q. Tathiana, it wasn't the result you were hoping for today, but Italy have been a joy to watch all week. Can I ask for your assessment on the entire week, please.

CAPTAIN TATHIANA GARBIN: Well, it was very emotional week. We had a great time here in Seville.

Our team is very close. I'm so proud of my players again, I have to say, because not just as players but as human beings, because I know them, all of them, since they were very young. They grow up so much. They are sensitive persons, and they stay with me in the tough moment, so I'm so proud.

Q. Jasmine, it's been a really positive season for all the girls on the team. You have all achieved career-high singles rankings. Do you think there is plenty of growth left in this team when you look to the future, next season in this competition? Do you think there is plenty of positivity ahead?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, I hope next year will be a good Billie Jean King Cup, as well, a positive week as this year. I think, yeah, we grew up together, as Tathiana just said. We improved, all of us improved a lot.

Yeah, I think we are a good team. We are competitive. Yeah, maybe one day we can win this title, yeah.

Q. Martina, could I just ask for your analysis of your match today? Just wondering how you were feeling. It's been a long week, lots of matches. Also, were you surprised by the level of your opponent?

MARTINA TREVISAN: Yeah, it's been a very tough week for me, mentally and of course physically. We spent a lot of energy on court and of course out of the court.

Yeah, maybe today my physical energy was, well, a little bit low. I'm a player that need to be very fast on court, and today I wasn't too much. It wasn't of course enough.

But, yeah, for sure I think my opponent played a good match. So the two things together made these results.

Q. Unlucky today, guys. I just wonder, what are the biggest lessons you're going to take away from this week, the success you have had and the impact that you have had, as well, in reaching the final for the first time in 10 years?

CAPTAIN TATHIANA GARBIN: Yes, sometimes I said when you fell down means you have something to pick up, you know. You have to look around and find what is your treasure is in the ground.

So I think we learn a lot this week. I think my team, it's getting so close as a family, so we are really close to each other. We know when somebody fell down, there are a group of people that is able to take you up, you know.

That's what I like. We lost today, but we were together. In the win, in the past couple of days, we were enjoy, and we are together when we lose. We enjoy anyway, because we learn something.

I think we learn how to stand up but stand up together. That's the lesson, most important lesson we learn.

Q. Jasmine, you have played Leylah a few times. Was there anything different playing her today than the other times? Did she play differently? Did she surprise you at all? She took the ball very early, it seemed.

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, I think today she played an unbelievable match. I think she's playing very good indoor, because no wind, the ball is not jumping, you know, on the surface. So for her it's so good.

I think she played really well. Maybe I played a little bit too short, not too deep, but she played an amazing level today.

For me, was tough to try to do something, you know, because she was always pushing me behind the line. She will always take the time to take the winner.

But, I mean, I hope to do better next time (smiling).