THE MODERATOR: Talk us through your thoughts for your matchup with Australia.
CAPTAIN HORACIO de la PENA: I think it's a very difficult tie. I have been watching Australian team from last year and I see the people gets involved very much, especially with the players that you guys have and the captain that is very pumped up. So we're ready for that.
We've been studying your team. We think we have a small chance but a good one, and we gonna try and go for that.
NADIA PODOROSKA: Hello, everyone. Yeah, of course Australia is a very strong team. You have good singles players, doubles players. It's a very complete team. We are ready to fight and do our game.
TOMAS MARTIN ETCHEVERRY: Well, for me, the same. We facing a strong team. Tomorrow I play against de Minaur. I play once against him the last year in Roland Garros. I beat him, but he beat me when we were juniors.
So yeah, now it's completely different match. He's top 10 in the world, but I will do my best to trying to get the win, of course.
THE MODERATOR: Let's open up to questions. Raise your hand and introduce yourself.
Q. This is for Guido. You got the call up late when Maximo Gonzalez pulled out. How does it feel to play this mixed team event for the first time, and how will you go about preparing for a team like Ebden and Perez who have a lot of mixed doubles experience?
GUIDO ANDREOZZI: Yeah, I'm very happy to be here to representing Argentina, to share the team with all of them. It's a very nice experience.
I will try to contribute as much as possible, maybe in the mixed doubles, supporting the guys in the singles. Obviously Australia, they have a very good doubles team, mixed doubles team. Matthew, they are top 10 in the world, so it will be very hard, but we will try our best.
I think if we play good, we have a good chance. Everything is possible, yeah.
CAPTAIN HORACIO de la PENA: He has to be ready because with Alex on the singles, probably he's going to have to try to fight a lot. We're not sure who is going to play the last doubles. Question mark. You don't know (smiling).
Q. A question for Nadia. I think you've played Olivia once before, just in qualifying. I think it was at Indian Wells. What do you remember from that match? Have you watched her game since?
NADIA PODOROSKA: Yes, of course I remember that match. I also watched it a few days ago.
It was a very tough match. Of course different conditions than here. In Indian Wells the ball bounce a lot, and here we play indoors, so it's going to be very different. Since then, she improve a lot her ranking and also her game. I'm pretty sure she has a lot of confidence now.
So yeah, I'm very happy with the preseason that I did, and I'm looking forward to play that match. Yeah, let's see what happen.
CAPTAIN HORACIO de la PENA: She is ready.
Q. Hello, Tomas. How nice is it to start the year in a team atmosphere? Obviously you have your coach with you, but just being with the group and having that energy and everything.
TOMAS MARTIN ETCHEVERRY: Yes, of course, I mean, I love to play for Argentina. My last tournament of the last season was Davis Cup and now I am starting a new one with representing Argentina again. For me, it's an honor to share the team with amazing guys. And of course it's a new chapter in my life with de la Pena as captain and also as my coach. Looking forward, of course, to try to do an incredible season and of course to try to do a very special United Cup.
Q. Tomas, what do you have to do going in against somebody like Alex? Even though you beat him, it was a different circumstance altogether. So what do you need to do coming up against him in his hometown?
TOMAS MARTIN ETCHEVERRY: Yes, of course tomorrow is going to be a different match. You know, I played last year in clay, so now in hard courts is completely different. I have to play aggressive, and we are talking about that with my coach.
Let's see, you know, how I have to play. It's going to be tough, of course. Now he's top 10 in the world. When I face him the last year was 30 or something like that. He's improving a lot.
Q. Horacio, what is the positives and what are the challenges of being in a position that you're in as captain?
CAPTAIN HORACIO de la PENA: Well, I think I like being the captain here in this United Cup, because you could do a lot. You could talk. I love that. You could intervene, step in the court. So there are some things that I'm not used to. When I used to be a coach, you have to do all with signs and trying the umpire not to see you (smiling). So it's a lot easier now.
The only bad thing is that Alex understands Spanish, so I'm going to have to (indicating zipping lips).
But it's okay. I think it is a challenge. I hope that because Alex is playing in his hometown he had a lot of Christmas parties and after-parties and all that. He also has a girlfriend here, so we hoping that they celebrate a lot and they give us a small chance, but we're gonna try to find it.
Q. Thiago, how special is it to represent your country and to be here as part of the group to start the year?
THIAGO AGUSTIN TIRANTE: Well, for me is first time as a pro that I play for Argentina. So it's amazing to share this week or these few days with the team. We are very close friends with Tomas. We are in the same city, so we do the preseason together.
So for me, trying my best from outside, is a good chance and is still preparing to the qualify of Australia. So for me, it's very nice to keep, to watch the guys and support outside the court, of course.
Q. What should people know about Tommy?
THIAGO AGUSTIN TIRANTE: Well, I can't talk too much (smiling). But no, no, he's a very good guy. We are very good friends. And nothing. We know each other since kids, since five, six years old. So yeah, for me, as friends, it's very special to share the court in this circumstance.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports