THE MODERATOR: Good morning. Let's begin with questions in the room.
Q. Hello, Ms. Captain. Looks like you can feel really comfortable with the flexibility of setting up the lineup for the singles matches, because it seems like every player in your squad can bring a really good value on the court. So do you think that the depth of your squad can be considered as a good advantage of Team Italy?
CAPTAIN TATHIANA GARBIN: Yes, of course. I have the opportunity to count on all the players to play singles, so I'm very proud, let me tell you, of my players, because they did a great journey during these years. They did a very good job during the years, especially this year, because most of them, they get their best ranking. Martina last year and Elisabetta this year, Lucia this year, and Jasmine also she get her best ranking. And also the new entry, the rookie, Lucrezia, she get the best ranking this year.
I'm really proud of what they have done, and I'm very lucky to have the opportunity to choose of many players this year. I'm great and happy.
I'm sorry, I said best ranking of Martina this year, so was last year, but she get best ranking in March.
Q. Tathiana, could I just ask, you mentioned Lucrezia and the rookie. Could you just say a few words about her selection and what a good year she's had and what skills she will bring to the team?
CAPTAIN TATHIANA GARBIN: She's a young player, and we look forward to have her in the team. The Federation is supporting her career since she was young, so I know her since she was 14, I guess. I'm getting very old (smiling).
No, we really stay with her during these years, and we were hoping she had the chance to come and play in this event, because it's for the players and for us is one of the most important moment of the year.
Obviously all the other tournaments are important, but this one, this group and this team is growing during these years, so we had a chance to take some player, new player, young player, then they can knowledge how these four play are doing for the team for all these years.
She had a great year. She played very good. She beat many players, top-100 player. She reach one of her goals. Her goal from the beginning was to reach top 100, and she's done it this year. I think it's a good opportunity to know the team and to have a great experience for the future.
Q. Lucrezia, how excited are you for the week?
LUCREZIA STEFANINI: I'm really happy to be here and to be part of this team. It's a dream. Like, you know, when you are young, you dream to be in the Team Italy, and you saw on TV and you said, Wow, I want to be there and you fight for it.
I'm really proud, and I'm really happy to be with those girls, because we are all friends. And nothing. I'm really happy.
Q. Elisabetta, could I ask what lessons do you feel Italy can take from last year's Finals and put into practice this year?
ELISABETTA COCCIARETTO: For sure playing last year the Finals was really great experience for us. We fight, we didn't get the win, but for sure we tried to do our best.
From my opinion, I mean, I played the singles and it was my first time in the Finals, and it was a great honor for me to be there and to play it.
I mean, I will try to take the lesson that I had last year this year if I'm going to play, and for sure I will support all of us in case I'm not going on the court, for sure.
Q. It's been 10 years since the last victory of Italy in this competition. Maybe, Elisabetta, you were 12 years old at this time, if I'm not wrong. Can you say your memory of this time, and how much at this time did you want to get in the national team?
ELISABETTA COCCIARETTO: Yes, I think I saw every Fed Cup, I mean Fed Cup in the past, Billie Jean King Cup now, when I was a kid, and it was a dream to be here and to play the Finals.
I remember of course when they played, when they won, and I was really little growing up and enjoying tennis and with the dream to be one of the best player in the world and for sure to be part of the national team.
So for me now it's a dream come true. I think also for all of us. I mean, it's, like, not crazy, but it's really good to be here. I didn't expect when I was 12 to be here after 10 years, but I mean, I'm here. I'm trying to do my best.
Q. About the group, maybe we hear from Tathiana, on France and Germany?
CAPTAIN TATHIANA GARBIN: We know it's a difficult tie. We know the value of our opponents, so we are taking care about it. Yeah, by my side I try to watch all the match of the opponents and stay on the side of my players during these months and during the year.
So what we try to do is to be a great team and don't think about the opponent but think about ourself and what we could do to get there to represent our country in the best way. I think my players, when they go on court and represent our country, they give a little bit more of what they can done.
Every time I saw them on court, I feel so proud, let me tell you. Feel so proud, because they are able to give more, especially in the last match we played against Slovakia. I think they have no energy anymore, but they are able to give effort and give something more that I couldn't think was possible.
So every time I saw them on court, I am feeling great energy. I'm really proud to be here.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports