UNITED CUP

December 31, 2023

Tomasz Wiktorowski

Iga Swiatek

Hubert Hurcacz

Team Poland

Press Conference

SWIATEK-HURKACZ/Haddad Maia-Melo

6-4, 6-3

Poland - 3

Brazil - 0

THE MODERATOR: Iga and Hubie, your thoughts on your double victories today in the matches.

IGA SWIATEK: I'm really happy with my performance both in singles and mixed. No, I'm just happy that I could actually use the work that I've done in pre-season. Yeah, I'm feeling pretty confident. Combined with Hubie's game on mixed doubles, I think we can really be a strong team. Yeah, it was a fun day, for sure.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Definitely I think started maybe a bit slower than I would hope for. But definitely my game was getting better and better. Just try to keep building on it. It's first match of the year. Yeah, we put in the work, just try to make it click.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Coach, strong performance. You were smiling throughout it.

CAPTAIN TOMASZ WIKTOROWSKI: Sometimes, yeah.

Q. We caught a few of them. Could you weigh in on just day one for you guys. What stood out to you in terms of the performances?

CAPTAIN TOMASZ WIKTOROWSKI: Maybe even last day. This is our last match in this year. Great beginning of new season. It's very nice information for us because it's a confirmation that the off-season was pretty good, solid.

Hubie said slow start. Credit to the other guy.

HUBERT HURKACZ: He was playing well.

CAPTAIN TOMASZ WIKTOROWSKI: I'm super happy.

Q. Iga, a little bit more detail on the singles match in terms of what you felt you did well. When you talk about seeing the stuff during the off-season translate into the match court, what do you mean by that?

IGA SWIATEK: I went forward after a couple of shots which we were practicing. I made the rallies shorter because of that.

But honestly, I don't know, it's like overall performance. I didn't hesitate. Even though it's a quicker surface than what I practiced on, I didn't slow my hand down. And also I was feeling pretty relaxed. I think the way we did this pre-season with more peace and more time actually for me to reset and sometimes even have couple of days off between the training blocks, I think it just gave me a lot of peace.

Yeah, I was really focused during this pre-season. I hope I'm going to be more relaxed on court because of that at the beginning of the season.

Q. What is it that you both love about playing this format?

IGA SWIATEK: I love the team spirit because it's something different. We never have that on tour. We're usually on our own, so it's nice to have other players cheering for you. I mean, there is a little bit more responsibility, and you have to deal with that. Overall it's just more motivation and more energy.

Last year, I mean, for me personally, we were playing five matches a day, so for me was a little too much to handle, especially when mixed was the last one and you needed to focus after being whole day on the court. This year I think the format is more convenient and we can focus on the right things.

Yeah, I mean, I'm happy that I'm also able to watch men's singles a little bit. I mean, I can do that on other tournaments as well, but usually you don't find time to do that. Here I'm forced a little bit (smiling). I'm kidding.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Sorry (smiling).

IGA SWIATEK: I'm not forced. It's a part of the game here. I'm happy I can see how they play and learn a little bit.

HUBERT HURKACZ: It's always so much fun to play with the team. We have Tomasz, Iga. Iga brings so much amazing energy. Definitely can learn a lot from her, the way she's playing, the way she's competing. Yeah, just really committed to the game and going after the shots, which really is inspiring. Yeah, and the way she plays in the mixed doubles.

Yeah, I think it's a fun format. I mean, it definitely was fun to have a bigger team. Yeah, sometimes playing five matches throughout the whole day is a bit draining.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, especially when you're used to focusing on yourself and going home - I mean to the hotel.

Q. Looking ahead to facing Spain on Monday. Is it good or bad to have a day off on New Year's Eve? If you could each break down your singles matchups facing Sara and Alejandro.

HUBERT HURKACZ: I mean, Alejandro is great player. He has had a lot of success. He's really difficult to play. Yeah, just going to be a battle. We'll see.

I will give my best. 10 a.m., 1st of January, it's not maybe what you dream about (smiling). Hopefully it's going to be the great start of a new year.

IGA SWIATEK: I don't remember playing at 10 a.m. Glad that Hubie is playing first (smiling).

Yeah, we played in Beijing not too long ago. It's always tough against her because she's fighting for every point and running, getting back every shot.

I think, yeah, it's going to be like a lesson of patience a little bit. But I did that well in Beijing. Hopefully I'm going to have similar mindset. We're going to work on tactics obviously with the coaches as usual. Yeah, we'll see.