Team Poland - 2
Team Czechia - 1
THE MODERATOR: A question for the captain first. Mat, well done. The team is through the quarterfinals and top of the group. Talk about the team atmosphere and how pleased everyone is.
CAPTAIN MATEUSZ TERCZYNSKI: I think the team is thrilled. It was a really tough match, as we expected, but we are all really happy and the team atmosphere is great. We are looking forward for tomorrow.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Congrats, all. Iga, just on the singles match against Karolina today, can you talk through a little bit that first set, some of the pressure she was putting on you early and what solutions you were able to find and to get it in two?
IGA SWIATEK: I don't remember precisely, because I spent like four hours on court. No, but seriously, I mean, playing against her is always a pleasure. Like, she brings so much variety, you know. She has a different game style, so smooth, than most of the players. I really enjoyed this.
Did I get broken at the end in first or second?
Q. First.
IGA SWIATEK: Okay, okay. Yeah, I'm happy I kept being patient, and, you know, I felt that my intensity was kind of like a wave. So at the end I knew that I can go for more, and I'm really happy how I closed both sets.
Second set, for sure, you know, at the end I think we were both pretty tight, but we managed both to push through it to keep the level high.
I'm really proud of that, because this is, like, something that every player wants, you know, push through these moments and go forward and win. So for sure I'm proud of today's performance.
Q. Hubi, you didn't play the first mixed doubles match and then you played today. Was that a tactical decision, or was there something else? What was the reason for that?
HUBERT HURKACZ: Pure tactics (smiling).
Q. What do you think of the qualification system? This is to the whole team. Obviously you're through, but do you think it's fair that one team of the group gets a second chance, or do you think there should be another system?
HUBERT HURKACZ: Well, I think with this amount of teams you're gonna have to put it through, as well, and also I think that makes every single match count and every single set count, mixed doubles count.
So I think it brings more energy for each singles match. I think it's good for the sport, and obviously everyone wants to get through to the quarterfinals.
Q. Iga?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, I think, you know, like being able to go through from second place is kind of like a lottery. You can't predict which side will matter. So you have to, as Hubi said, you have to push for everything and this is what makes it interesting.
I mean, my goal and the team's goal was to come out first, because as I said, there is one team only coming from the second places of six teams, right? It's like a lottery, so you can't predict. I'm happy that we secured our place in the quarterfinal, because I think we deserve it.
CAPTAIN MATEUSZ TERCZYNSKI: I think it's a great solution, because the field is really even. There are so many strong teams. One team should get a chance to go through even if they go second, because there are so many great players and so many good teams, and why not?
Q. For Iga and Hubi, I know there is still a few days to go before the Open begins, but what do you feel is the priority for both of you to get to where you want to be for the start of the Open?
IGA SWIATEK: I mean, there is no priority. Like, it's not like you can control everything. The tournament is two weeks long, so, you know, it's not like you can really peak at one point.
So I don't know. Like, to play well in a Grand Slam, you have to take care of everything, you know. Like, physically, for sure, you need time after this event to recover a bit and to start the tournament fresh. But also, like, when we go to Melbourne, we do get used to the conditions, the pressure of the Grand Slam, for sure.
It's the first one this year, so we get back to these feelings and kind of remember how I was dealing with them. Everything, you know, mentally, physically, there is a lot to work on. So there is no one priority, because to play well in a Grand Slam, you have to get kind of everything covered.
HUBERT HURKACZ: Well, for me, definitely I need some matches, so thank you, Iga, for collecting all the points for Team Poland so I can play some more singles matches, as well (laughter).
Yes, of course with the new team, with the new setup, as you might have seen, I changed a few things. So definitely I think my game is progressing, and I'm getting better feel from each single match. But obviously I haven't been, I mean, basically playing for half a year normally. So I need some extra matches. Thank you, Iga, one more time.
IGA SWIATEK: Well, I don't need extra matches but I'll keep pushing. (Laughter.)
Q. Both to Iga and Hubi, obviously with the tie relying on the mixed doubles, how was the energy on the court? Did you feel like there wasn't any pressure and it was just enjoying the energy between you two?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, of course there is always pressure, you know. Yeah, but honestly, like, couple of years ago I always thought that doubles is kind of like -- I didn't get it. You know, I didn't feel like I have control of our stuff. So I was, like, okay, this may happen, this may happen, whatever.
But now with Hubi I feel really can push and we have such a strong game that as you could see, we can even break the other guys serving. So I feel like, yeah, we are for sure ready every game, and we showed that. And there is pressure, but I think it's fun. It's more fun I think than singles. We also kind of support each other throughout the whole match, so I really like it. I enjoy it.
HUBERT HURKACZ: Well, Iga said most of it, but was definitely a lot of fun. Obviously there is a little bit of pressure, but that makes it exciting for everyone, as well. I mean, we tried to bring our best energy, and Iga played really amazing in crucial moments, and we managed to win the first set in the tiebreaker. From then on that definitely gave us good momentum moving forward.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports