Switzerland-Belgium
2-1
THE MODERATOR: Team Switzerland, congratulations for reaching the United Cup final, 3-3 set match. We would like to hear from the captain your experience on the court and the team zone for eight hours?
STAN WAWRINKA: I cannot talk anymore. I am really proud of the team. Again MVP, Kubie. Well done.
Belinda, show us again why you are such a great champion. It was a tough one this morning, but you went through it. It is amazing. As a captain, it is amazing to watch and to try and help the way I can.
I am super proud with the energy we have in this team. We have so much fun since day one. It's amazing to be in the final, mainly because of Belinda. So well done, Belinda.
THE MODERATOR: We'll open up for questions.
Q. To the three players, you were all on the bench for each other's matches.
Stan, you were on the bench for Belinda's match and then the two of you were on the bench for Stan's match. Can you just talk a little bit about the camaraderie and also about the adapting conditions from Perth to Sydney?
BELINDA BENCIC: Well, I just have to say, I mean, Stan pushes me through in my singles, then he tries to push himself through in his singles and then he pushes us over the line in the mixed.
So, I don't know what to say, it's just amazing. And you can see how much you put your heart into it. So, best captain. And of course, was great also with Kubie.
And also the rest of the bench, I think you guys are praying while we are playing.
I think we just all really want this so much. You can feel it. And you can see it. We really are a team. We feel that way. You can definitely feel it when you are playing.
It is something that gives us the extra push and the extra motivation.
JAKUB PAUL: For me it is also easy to watch those two play the singles. They played really good matches, so I can't really leave in the third set, or anything, to warm up for the doubles.
So they make it easy to watch and support them.
As Belinda said to Stan, it is just amazing that, after his long singles match, for the first point for our mixed doubles he is there. That just gives us really good energy for the match.
BELINDA BENCIC: Brutal.
STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it was, of course, odd, but I think it wasn't easy to adapt for sure because it is not the same condition, it's not the same Centre Court.
Of course they try maximum to make it equal, make it the same, but when you change the city, when you change with the roof, indoor, it was for me a little bit difficult. At the beginning it was a bit faster, flying a little bit more. So we had to adapt.
At the end we did it well. Even if I lost, I am quite happy with my performance. I'm happy with my match. I fight through it. I would have preferred to win it but, at the end, we won as a team so I'm super happy.
Q. Belinda, just going to your match, upper break in that final set things got tight. Were you getting nervous at that point because it looked like you were getting a bit anxious on the court and then regrouping for that very one-sided tiebreak?
BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, I think today was really overcoming myself, I think. It is not easy. It was a bit weird, you know. You are still in the same tournament, you play semifinal, but it feels like a first round match again because it is a different side. It's very special. It never happens normally in a normal tournament.
So I think it felt a little bit that way. I think I was just a little bit off maybe for the whole match, like, with myself, with my thoughts. But, again, I mean, I just have everyone pushing me through in this moment. And I am not allowed to let my side down or try -- not try to give up, but not letting yourself down thanks to everyone.
So I'm really happy also some days like this where you are maybe more anxious on the court or more nervous. I felt at one point I just had to let all my emotions out and, yeah, it helped.
Q. Stan, during your singles everything was very even until about 3-all in the third set and then you made a few mistakes that we don't normally expect from you. Was it the heat? Did you have a problem with your leg?
STAN WAWRINKA: The last thing you didn't mention, my brain. I started to think a bit too much. You know, when you get a bit tired. Of course, it was a tough match for him, for me. He changed a little bit. He went a little bit back.
I started to doubt about myself and about the choice I wanted to make, and that's when I start to stop moving well, start to not go through the ball. That's what happened. I was, I think, 40-love, I shouldn't have lost that game, but it is a part of tennis, unfortunately.
Q. But apart from the voice you are fit?
STAN WAWRINKA: I am trying.
Q. Belinda, can I ask you for a comment on your partner. What has surprised you the most, is it just the confidence that he is playing with to believe he belongs on this stage and he's playing aggressive excellent tennis?
BELINDA BENCIC: Well, I think it is much different like when I grew up watching him play. Of course you see on the TV and you see what's that about, but now it's just amazing to see him also in the back stage and what he does to play well...
STAN WAWRINKA: I think he was talking about Kubie. (Laughs.)
BELINDA BENCIC: Yes, I grew up watching Kubie play. And I saw him playing against my brother. And now it is amazing to see him what he does behind the scenes.
No, I mean, obviously, I am not watching him play because I am at the net, or I am in the back and he goes.
It is amazing to see him play and how brave he is and he is taking stuff in his own hands. Sorry, both you guys are amazing.
THE MODERATOR: Anyone else in English? One last.
Q. Stan, I think this is one of the few times you have come to Sydney, and I don't think you have played in Perth before, can you speak about what it's like to play in new cities for you in your final year on tour?
STAN WAWRINKA: Yes, Perth, it was my first time. It was amazing to be there to discover the city, the people. It is a different feeling, a different energy. But we had a lot of fun. We enjoyed with a lot of people. A lot of fans was super happy.
For Sydney, of course, it was a long time since I came back here. But I played twice - I played the tournament, I also played the Davis Cup on grass in 2011.
Yeah, you know, it is my last year, so I like to enjoy every place I go Australia. It is always going to be special.
THE MODERATOR: Do we need Swiss-German or French?
Q. Belinda, just the fact that Switzerland has finished the final of the United Cup for the first time and the excitement of achieving something like that in Swiss-German?
BELINDA BENCIC: That's weird, but... (Swiss-German spoken).
Q. Just talk about your performance today and especially that final set because at one stage I think Mertens was possibly just two points away from winning that match?
Q. Finally, looking ahead to the final, obviously we don't know who you are going to be playing, but if you could talk about playing Coco and then, on the other side, talk about the possibility of playing Iga?
THE MODERATOR: Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports