BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 14, 2024

Ena Shibahara

Team Japan

Press Conference

E. SHIBAHARA/J. Cristian

6-4, 7-6

Team Japan - 1

Team Romania - 1

THE MODERATOR: We will start this press conference with English questions.

Q. Ena, many congratulations. How does it feel to have won such an important match for Japan?

ENA SHIBAHARA: Yeah, it's an amazing feeling. I was a little nervous going into the match. You know, we were down Love-1, but I just took that opportunity to challenge myself and do the best that I can to keep my team in the match.

I'm just really happy with the way I played.

Q. What were the keys for you to the match?

ENA SHIBAHARA: I feel like, for me, I mean, I was serving really well, so I feel like that was a key to, you know, holding most of my games.

She's also a really good server, so I was just doing my best to make as many returns as I can, and when I can, I can break. Towards the end, for the tiebreaker, that's basically all I kind of was focusing on was just to make my return and then be able to just play my game.

Q. You're obviously known more as a doubles specialist. I'm just wondering how your singles career is developing and how you feel you're going in the right direction with that. And also how your doubles influences your singles as a player.

ENA SHIBAHARA: Yeah, you know, this year I chose to focus on singles. It was a really big decision, because I created a great career in doubles. I'm really grateful for all the experiences that I gained on the doubles career. I feel like that helped me build confidence in these bigger stages like these matches today.

Q. Was there any discussion about you playing the decisive doubles now?

ENA SHIBAHARA: No, no. I think we trust our team for doubles (smiling). They just won a 500, and they're playing great. There was no questions for that (smiling).