UNITED CUP

January 1, 2024

Tomasz Wiktorowski

Hubert Hurcacz

Iga Swiatek

Team Poland

Press Conference

SWIATEK-HURKACZ/Tormo-Fokina

6-0, 6-0

Team Poland - 2

Team Spain - 1

THE MODERATOR: Captain, great match today. Tough opponent in Team Spain. How do you assess the team's performance today?

CAPTAIN TOMASZ WIKTOROWSKI: I was super proud because they really showed off today. Hubie had a tough opponent in the first match. Then he step up for mixed doubles. It was great performance in mixed doubles.

I'm also super proud of Iga because we had a tough off-season just behind. It's always nice when right after off-season, during the official matches, we see that what we've done is working at the moment.

THE MODERATOR: Open the floor to questions.

Q. Hubie, what is it about Alejandro's game that can give you trouble? The head-to-head is 4-2. We know he's a good player, but what are your thoughts?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Well, I think, I mean, obviously he's a really good player. He's definitely returning well. He's really quick on the court. Definitely know he has the ability to hit the shots. He has great backhand.

Today I expected myself to hit some better backhands than I actually did. He was definitely taking advantage of it. He can play some really great dropshots. He's a tricky, tricky player. If he's able to perform like today, he's going to have really amazing year.

Q. Iga, in terms of the adjustments that you made after the first four games, finding rhythm, what were the key adjustments to get the scoreline?

IGA SWIATEK: Actually I needed to be more patient. It was hotter than last time we played. We played night session. This time I felt like the balls were flying a little bit out of control out of my racquet. I mean, I knew that, but it's hard to kind of switch your mindset and your idea for these shots straightaway. I needed a couple games to do that. It clicked for sure.

Yeah, just honestly I had to play slower. It worked. I felt even, like, sometimes I was playing even Sara's pace, but I was just aiming for the right spots. At some point this match was pretty physical even though it was 6-2, 6-1. It was much tougher than it looked.

Q. In general, qualifying for the quarterfinals for Poland, what does it mean to you to be able to do that? From the matches you have played, singles and mixed doubles, how pleased are you with your level?

IGA SWIATEK: I'm really happy with my level and the way I'm focused. I'm not feeling rusty. I'm not feeling like I need to get into a lot of rhythm. I'm playing freely, the same way I felt in Beijing, after US Open basically. I'm just happy to be in that place.

As coach said, we really worked on some stuff and it's working. I can see myself sometimes choosing different options because I have more variety. I'm just happy that it's working. Hopefully I'll be able to keep that mindset for a longer time than last year before AO.

HUBERT HURKACZ: I think it still may be little bit rust. I feel a lot of things we work on actually I see the improvement. On the other hand I maybe miss too many shots I wouldn't like to miss, which is okay. Definitely will put in a lot of work tomorrow. Hopefully it just progresses faster and faster.

I'm definitely not serving really, really well yet. But that will just come with couple more matches and then I'll start to really feel it. Definitely with the work I put in, definitely it's going to help me play better.

Q. Your game against Sara was long despite the scoreline. At this early stage of a season, how important is it to have those tough matchups where you have to dig a bit?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I don't mind playing easy matches, as well (smiling). I'll take anything that I can play right now to just gain confidence, yeah, play my game.

Yeah, for sure, I mean, I remember last year everybody said that I haven't play a three-setter in eight months or something. I was like it didn't really matter for me. On the other hand it's nice to have some moments where, I don't know, you're 15-40 and you have to really get your focus on another level. I had couple of situations like that today.

Still for sure the matches that are going to be more tight are going to come and I'll be ready.

Q. Iga, away from the United Cup, there have been a lot of comebacks of players, Caroline, Angie, Naomi --

IGA SWIATEK: Naomi played? She won?

Q. Yes.

IGA SWIATEK: Cool.

Q. From your perspective, as someone who has been at the top of the tour while they have been away, what is your perspective of these players, marquee players coming back, what impact that might have on the tour?

IGA SWIATEK: I didn't play many matches against Caro. I only played once in Toronto. I was a rookie. I was just focused on being able to hit over the net, other than some tactics or whatever. I mean, she's almost Polish, so we know her a little bit. Aga played many matches with Caro that were tight. I kind of know her game because of the coach.

Naomi, for sure we played couple of times. I'm really happy that she's back. I heard that she's really feeling well off court, which is amazing to hear. It's going to be nice to see her and to catch up little bit.

I mean, her tennis has always been great. She had plenty ups and downs, but when she was playing great it was hard to win against her. She won for first time in two years. Really amazing. She showed that it's possible.

Angie Kerber, she's also almost Polish. We had opportunity to talk about her work. It's nice she's coming back. Nice to have familiar faces on tour, some people that are really nice.

Who else is coming back as well? I mean, Amanda, (indiscernible) as well. I haven't talked to them a lot. They're kind of my peers. Probably they'll be on tour for a longer time and we'll play cool matches together, I guess. We'll see.

Q. Did you have a dinner appointment with the way that mixed doubles went, 40 minutes?

IGA SWIATEK: For us, lunch.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Alejandro, he's playing really well. Hopefully he continues to play that well. Maybe I'll win some matches against him in singles, as well.

IGA SWIATEK: I'm trying to teach Hubie that he doesn't need a tiebreaker in every set (laughter).