BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 11, 2024

Dawid Celt

Iga Swiatek

Magda Linette

Katarzyna Kawa

Magdalena Frech

Maja Chwalinska

Team Poland

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Hello, everyone. Let's start the press conference with Team Poland. We will start with English questions. Please raise your hand.

Q. Hello. My question is for Iga. Did you watch the final with the Finals? What do you think about it if you saw?

IGA SWIATEK: I haven't watched it. I went to rest a bit, and for sure it's not easy to be out of the tournament, so I took some time off and didn't watch tennis.

Q. Welcome to Malaga. Iga, how much anticipation is there for you to be back at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals and ready to represent Poland?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I wouldn't say I'm back, because this is the first time I'm playing this event. For sure it's exciting.

I'm happy that I can be part of the team again, because I always wanted that every year, but with the scheduling, it was pretty tricky and kind of impossible to make it work, you know. So this year I got the opportunity. I didn't play China swing, you know. My schedule wasn't that tight. I decided straightaway that it's going to be a great idea to play.

So, yeah, I'm just happy to be here, and hopefully I can play some solid matches here and stay as long as possible together with the team.

Q. A question for Magdalena. You have enjoyed a really good season. How do you look back on 2024, and how excited are you to finish it off in style here in Malaga?

MAGDALENA FRECH: Yeah, it was a really amazing year for me, one of the best in my career, for sure. I won my first title, so that was a big title for me.

Yeah, I'm really happy about the result, about my game, how it improved in this season. I can't wait for the next one. I'm really looking forward.

Yeah, that's all (smiling).

Q. Magda, thoughts on facing Spain on opening night?

MAGDA LINETTE: I think it's never easy to play the host, so obviously I think we are ready because we played last year and we know what's coming.

I think we're feeling pretty nice to have Iga with us. I think we have this really good vibe in the team, because we have been together for a couple of events now. I think we're feeling good, we're playing good, and I think it's going to be a nice matchup.

Q. I understand from the last few days you have been announced as an ambassador in Poland; is that correct? If so, could I just have your thoughts on that accolade?

MAGDA LINETTE: You mean the ambassador of traveling to Poland? Yes, I think I have always been really passionate about, in general, Polish things. I'm actually quite excited every single time I see Polish food outside of Poland (smiling).

So I always try to persuade everyone to try things, go and see things. I think it's so nice to see that that has been noticed and kind of put in a nice use.

So I'm really, really proud. But it's not only me. It's also other girls. I think it's nice that sport can do that, can show our country, our culture, food, and things that it has to offer.

Q. Dawid, how excited are you for the Finals and what your team might be able to achieve?

CAPTAIN DAWID CELT: Hello, everyone. Third time in a row Finals for me means a lot. We played last year here in Spain against host team, the same we're gonna do this year. We've got some experience.

Yeah, I believe we're gonna get revenge, because last year was tough one, but this year it's going to be different match, different teams. That's what I said, I believe we're gonna win last point.

Q. This question is for Iga. If nothing strange happens, you're going to play against Paula Badosa. How have you seen her comeback this year? Do you think she can be amongst the top again?

IGA SWIATEK: For sure, you know, Paula has the game and the motivation to do that. I was actually, you know, looking at her journey, and I was kind of worried if she was going to be able to come back, because obviously her injuries weren't easy and smooth, and sometimes she tried but it wasn't working.

So honestly, I was super happy to see her back playing her tennis on these tournaments, on US Open, you know, and plenty of others. Yeah, she's a really, really nice person, and I felt like, you know, she's really pushing to be back. Anybody who has this kind of grit and determination, you know, deserves to be there. Hopefully she's gonna continue that.

But we'll see this week. I'm probably going to focus on myself, and hopefully she's not going to play that well (smiling). We'll see.

Q. Iga, this is for me in English, but if you will reply in Polish. Can I just ask how much you are looking forward to playing this very important event here? And how much do you enjoy representing Poland, and how much does it mean to you to represent your nation?

IGA SWIATEK: (Answer in Polish.)