UNITED CUP

January 3, 2024

Tomasz Wiktorowski

Iga Swiatek

Hubert Hurkacz

Team Poland

Press Conference

Team Poland - 3

Team China - 0

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. How do you assess your matches individually today and the team performance in general?

IGA SWIATEK: I mean, I played up to my expectations in my singles. Qinwen put some pressure on me, especially at the beginning of the match, but I was able to go even a level higher. I'm happy with how I played.

For sure we played many tough matches against each other. This one was also pretty tight even though the score doesn't say that. I'm happy that, yeah, I could win this second point for Team Poland.

I watched Hubie's singles, as well, little bit. Yeah, he looked pretty confident. It seemed like we had everything under control. So I'm happy with the performance today.

HUBERT HURKACZ: I mean, definitely better match from my side. I served little bit better. Still not there, but I felt like the things we work on the previous day practice, they're paying off. It was decent match. Happy with my performance.

Obviously he's a really good player. If he's really on, he brings up a great, great level. Definitely happy with the victory. Seeing after Iga play, she was hit some amazing shots. Yeah, was amazing to win the match.

We won the mixed doubles after that. Katia came on the court. That was really good. We go to Sydney and hopefully continue to play good.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Iga, two wins for you here over top-15 opponents. How much confidence does that give you into Sydney and the Australian Open?

IGA SWIATEK: A lot. For sure I feel like I'm playing well and I make progress comparing to last year. I feel like I have more skills to play on these faster hard courts.

I don't know, I just feel like I can really be in a good place physically and mentally. I'm just using on court. Obviously every tournament is a different story. Grand Slam, it's always a little bit tougher, there's more pressure. I'm just thinking about finishing this tournament well and we'll see what's going to happen in Melbourne.

Q. Hubie, the other day you said you felt a bit rusty. Today you looked far from it. How did you feel out there?

HUBERT HURKACZ: I mean, definitely I felt better today on the court. I feel like maybe had a little better mindset. We know what I could have done better from the past match. That was good experience, as well.

Thanks to Iga, we had the chance to play another match. So, yes, definitely happy with the progress.

Q. Have you been surprised by the level of support you have had here? A lot of Polish fans in the crowd.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, that's my first time in Perth, so I had no idea how it's going to look.

Honestly, I mean, I really appreciate it. I wouldn't say it's a surprise because anyplace I go, for sure there are many Polish people that are coming and supporting us. When I'm on individual tournaments, events like that, it's always great.

Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't say it's a surprise because they're great on every tournament. For sure, since it was my first time in Perth, I was happy that they came and they supported us because it meant a lot for sure.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Yeah, was really amazing. First time here in Perth. To see so many Polish fans, Polish people coming and supporting us, that always gives you extra energy. Just really appreciate them.

CAPTAIN TOMASZ WIKTOROWSKI: I was here 2014 and '15 for Hopman Cup. I knew there was a big Polish community here, here in Perth, a big one. Have a few friends. Yeah, we expected that.

IGA SWIATEK: Coach has everything under control.

CAPTAIN TOMASZ WIKTOROWSKI: With you guys, it's tough, but I'm trying to do my best (smiling).

Q. Iga, down Love-2, then nine games in a row, when you're in that frame of mind, what does it feel like? Does it feel like you can do no wrong?

IGA SWIATEK: I wouldn't say today I was, like, I didn't have this flow that everyone talked about because I still felt like we were playing pretty tight games. I knew how the match started, so I didn't want to let Qinwen back into the game. I didn't really feel like I won so many games in a row.

Obviously when I looked at the score, I realized that. I was really focused on what's here and now. I didn't really look at it from another perspective because I wanted to be efficient and just win the next game no matter what happened before.

Sometimes when you win many games in a row, you can relax and back off a little bit. I didn't want to do that. I just focused on what's necessary.

Q. Hubie, are those Paddington bears on your slides?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Yeah, they are (smiling).

Q. Is there a story behind that?

IGA SWIATEK: They're just cool (smiling).

Q. Wondering if you have a special connection?

HUBERT HURKACZ: I mean, no special connection. Yeah, just went to the store and they appealed to me, so I got them (smiling).

CAPTAIN TOMASZ WIKTOROWSKI: Finally he found the size. The last pair (smiling).

Q. You got them here?

HUBERT HURKACZ: They're on me now. No, no, no, before.

Q. The format change, you have the travel day plus a rest day before you have to play. How significant is that given last year's experience? In terms of making that adjustment, does it put you at a significant advantage going into the semifinals?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I'm really happy that United Cup kind of listened to our feedback and are supporting us in terms of giving us time to get used to the new conditions.

Last year I remember the court in Sydney was a little bit different. Also it's hard to, like, obviously was two hours of travel for us, but you have to pack, you have to unpack, spending the night at a different hotel. It feels different and you're not in the routine and in the rhythm.

I'm really happy that United Cup and everybody that organized this tournament listened to us because there were many feedbacks that were the same as ours. I felt for sure last year like I couldn't find my game suddenly.

Hopefully this year is going to be a little bit better. We'll do our best to use that one day of practice or maybe two, I don't know yet, to get used to the court.

CAPTAIN TOMASZ WIKTOROWSKI: One (smiling).

IGA SWIATEK: I have a day off (smiling).

Yeah, I'm saying it for a third time, but they actually listened. Last year I had a meeting right after, and they seemed really understanding. It's something that we lack I think from some...

HUBERT HURKACZ: Yes.

IGA SWIATEK: I forget the word (speaking in Polish).

HUBERT HURKACZ: Organization.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, organization. It's good to have that (smiling).