BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 17, 2024

Anne Keothavong

Katie Boulter

Team Great Britain

Press Conference

K. BOULTER/L. Fernandez

6-2, 6-4

Team Canada - 0

Team Great Britain - 2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Katie, well played. Would you like to take this court in your pocket and carry it around with you the whole year round?

KATIE BOULTER: I mean, I did say yesterday I wanted some indoor tournaments. If you can make that happen, I wouldn't complain at all. Please do.

No, I feel like my level out there today was a series of what's been building for quite some time. Obviously having quite a few matches behind me and also a court that suits me, yeah, I'm really pleased the way I played. I just went out with nothing to lose. Very happy with the win.

Q. That was not really an under-the-radar performance. That was a great display from both of you tonight. Anne said right from the start you guys can win this tournament. Do you feel the same?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I mean, I definitely wouldn't be here if I didn't believe we could win the tournament. I think we have got a great team. We've always got a great chance. We're going to be in with the last four.

I think every single day anything can happen. We're just going to keep believing, keep trusting it, and just keep enjoying it. I think that's really important. It's worked so well for us so far.

I don't think there is any pressure. I think we're just enjoying ourselves. Living with the girls I think it's been honestly truly amazing and such a great week for me. I have enjoyed it and been so inspired to be around all these people.

I know they've got my back, so no matter what happens, I'm just going to go out and do my best. I know they'll support me.

Q. Anne, how did you get the balance right between having the confidence and belief but not into overconfidence?

CAPTAIN ANNE KEOTHAVONG: It's far from overconfident. Just kind of acknowledging what's there. Also, you know, myself and all the other staff members, doing our best to instill the belief that the players, this team, can do this.

Obviously, you know, we're not looking too far ahead, but it's about the overall package. We're in it to win it. I've got every bit of faith and belief in the players. You know, this competition means a lot to all of us, but, you know, they have shown what they are capable of. I have said this before. Not just in an event like this but outside of the team events. You know, they are quality tennis players. They just need to go out there, really trust themselves and believe.

You know, we do our best to prep them as well as possible, and, you know, like Katie said, make it fun, as well. These weeks when players come together, it's not always the most natural for individual sportswomen to come together and be in a team environment, but, you know, we make it happen. It's not like it's their first rodeo. They know what the drill is. We're all highly motivated to do the best we can here.

Q. I think Britain hadn't made the semifinals since 1981 until two years ago, and now it's twice in three years. I just wonder how proud you are of that and what that says about women's tennis in Britain?

CAPTAIN ANNE KEOTHAVONG: Yeah, it's fantastic. It really is a brilliant achievement for the team. But like I said on court, you know, the job is far from over. I think it's important to enjoy the moment and really recognize what fantastic performances we saw this evening from Emma first, you know, the way she held it together in that second set, you know, on her service games, a number of breakpoints she had to save. You know, I thought that was a really gutsy set of tennis from her to close it out the way she did.

And then from Katie, to go out there and, look, if you sit there courtside, you hopefully have a greater appreciation for her weight of shot, the speed she's playing at, and the improvements she's made physically and in her tennis, the way she went out there and grabbed hold of the match against a highly talented young player.

So, look, yeah, their performances I can be proud of as a captain, but overall, just this team and being able to captain this team is a huge privilege for me.

Q. Katie, what's it like when you're sort of watching Emma, because you have that balance to make between obviously supporting your teammate and also preparing for your own game?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, it's obviously a very unique situation. I feel like I have kind of found the balance with it. It's been really good the last few days. I feel like I have managed to at least get a few games out there and try and support her as much as I can, but also going back and getting sorted so I'm ready to go myself, because I have to take care of my own backyard.

Yeah, I'll try and support her, but I also know the girls have got her regardless. I know the team have got her. They're all going to be there for her.

I know I can make a difference maybe, I don't know, but I know everyone else has got her regardless. Yeah, I feel pretty good getting myself ready and keeping my head down myself.

Q. Katie, well done. Leylah was on an eight-match winning streak going into this. I wonder, when she started clawing it back at the end, what goes through your mind in those moments, knowing how good she is in this competition in particular?

KATIE BOULTER: I actually didn't know that, to start with. But yeah, I mean, I know how tough she is to beat. I know what a fighter she is. That's one of the biggest things that you look for in a player, and she's got it.

You know, she makes it so hard to close matches out, but honestly, I feel like the last few matches that I played in Hong Kong, there are a couple there where I had to continue being the frontrunner, and that's really helped me. You know, someone's having a go at you when they're down, it's a lot harder to push through.

I just wanted to kind of use that experience in Hong Kong and try and bring it here. I know it's Billie Jean King Cup, you're playing for a little bit more, but I feel like, yeah, she's a fighter and you've just got to keep going, keep believing, back yourself no matter what, not give her anything, and not show her that you're a little bit nervous. I think that's what I was at the end. But I just kept going for my shots and trusted them and managed to get it done the second time.

Q. Anne, curious what are you most impressed with with Katie's development, having seen her develop to now being a top player?

KATIE BOULTER: Be nice.

CAPTAIN ANNE KEOTHAVONG: Always.

Look, one of the biggest things that should be recognized this year is that she's gone pretty much injury-free. That's down to the work she's put in. She's obviously built a great team around her. Together they are a fun group of people to be around.

They enjoy what they do together and have fun and work her hard. She's always been committed. That's never been an issue. You know, I always say when she's played in this competition, she's always left everything out there.

You know, she plays with a lot of heart, a lot of belief. You know, she's a fantastic person to be around. You know, it's also important that, yes, she enjoys these moments, but, you know, she needs to keep filling her tank and get herself ready for the next one.

Q. One for Anne. A word on your next opponents. Slovakia have obviously had a big impact here, maybe surprised some people by how far they have gone.

CAPTAIN ANNE KEOTHAVONG: Yeah. Look, I think they've got fantastic team spirit, but so do we. I think their performance today, you know, we were surprised who played at No. 2, but she did a great job, did a great job in the deciding doubles the other night, as well.

They're not going to be easy. They've got momentum in this competition. But as always, we will do our best to prep. No one is to be underestimated in this. We have seen countless times how people are able to raise their level when they are representing their nation. For all the players, there is a different type of pressure, and the expectation is completely different.

But, you know, I go in it believing again that our players have the ability to get the job done.