FED CUP - BELGIUM VS. USA

April 24, 2005

Els Callens

ELS CALLENS: I think it was important to see how this team was, and I think especially to prepare for the coming tie in July. And I think everybody played okay, I think, and did what he (sic) had to do. I think that was a good team spirit, and we did what we could do. I mean, this is -- if you play a team like this, it's not very easy. It's a very difficult task. I think we fought, we kept our heads high, and that's all we could do, is like fight for the last point and play what we have inside. That's all we can do against a team like this.

ELS CALLENS: What?

ELS CALLENS: Of course, yeah, it's not a Kim or a Justine. Yeah, I think it's all right. They've been out there a couple years already in the challengers. It would be nice to see them break through now. And I think maybe matches like this can give them a little bit of experience. Maybe they'll progress.

ELS CALLENS: Yeah, it was less windy than yesterday. Yesterday was pretty hard to play. Today I was serving really good and I was keeping up with her. A bit of a shame from one break, which went to deuce anyway. It was a pretty close set and I think I played pretty good the first set. And then it got a little bit more windy. She started to return also better. I think she got more grip into the match and she pulled away from me there.

ELS CALLENS: Yeah, sometimes you realize. You think especially, you know, when they call the teams out on the court. Like the first day, I was like, "Oh, my God." It looked like almost an impossible task (laughter). Then once I was on the court, I felt like, "Come on," and I was trying to pump myself up and try to move well, try to play every point well, run for everything, try a little bit of risk. I didn't want to leave the court and say yesterday -- that's why I said yesterday I tried everything. I tried everything. I don't want to let my arms hang. I just want to say, "Come on, this is what I'm worth, I did my best." I think that's how you should come off the court if you play players like this.

ELS CALLENS: Of course, it's a different story when you play away and home. I think it will be an interesting tie actually. Then I think it's up to the captains to play best against which player and maybe play around a little bit. But I think it will be interesting. I think it also would be an interesting time if Kim and Justine were here.