Team Kazakhstan - 2
Team Germany - 1
THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Into the semifinals. You'll be on your way to Sydney soon. Looking back at this week, what do you think you did well and what would you like to take to Sydney with you? To the captain.
CAPTAIN ALEKSANDR NEDOVYESOV: I mean, obviously I will take the team atmosphere. I think we are really strong team supporting whoever players on the court. And I think this support is really important for the one who is representing the team on court. So this is No. 1. This is the most important thing.
Looking back at all three matches, it was not easy to play. We had some challenges on the courts, but I'm proud of every single team member of our team, how they did fight on the court and how they were manage to find a way to win the matches.
Sascha obviously today -- I mean our Sascha, not saying Zverev, our Sascha did an amazing job coming back. Was struggling a little bit with the late change in the lineup, but like I said, I'm going to repeat myself, I was proud the way he was able to find a way to win the match.
Again, Elena, credits to her, leader of the team, normally what she's going to bring the point to the team. We counted on her any day, any time.
Yeah, I mean, really happy to be through the quarterfinal stage. Looking forward to trip to Sydney. It's going to be a little bit different, but we are ready to any challenges.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Congratulations. Sascha, I'll start with you. Really physical match again today. How are you feeling after three really physical matches?
ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: Actually, right now at this moment I'm feeling okay, but after the match I was feeling like I'm gonna die. But yeah, I mean, it's a brutal condition, 40 degrees, around that, 37.
I don't understand why we are not closing the roof in these conditions, because it's quite dangerous. If you're going long matches with this heat, it's tough. Obviously I was not aggressive enough in the first set, and I was the one who is more running for the balls. Yeah, there was a little bit shut down in the start of the second set, but then I found second breath, and since that, I played the tennis that I should have played in the first set and actually proud of that.
Q. You said you changed your approach. In the first set he was varied, using the slice a lot. What did you have to do differently?
ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: I think the problem was obviously also a little bit psychologically. I mean, it was tough to go and play when it changes like in last minutes, and obviously he's a low-ranked player so I knew I had to win. That's also played a little bit in my head.
But in game-wise, I just started to be aggressive. I started to play my tennis, because the first set what I played it's not my tennis. I was just running, defending, and that's normally not my tennis. So just went back to my tennis and it worked, hitting the ball aggressively, and that brought the W to me.
Q. What was your initial reaction when you heard the news this morning about Sascha withdrawing?
ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: In some way I was happy . In some way not really, because, I mean, obviously not good to play opponent team and who is No. 2 in the world, but in same way I wanted to challenge him. I think I would done better with him than I did today maybe against Daniel, because all pressure was on me. If I would be a little bit more free and the way I played against Stefanos, I think I would have some chances today as well.
Q. In the broadcast, they said you played Daniel in a French league match quite recently?
ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: Yeah.
Q. Could you talk a bit about that, and if that played on any part of how you're feeling going into the match?
ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: Actually, I played him twice in the league, like long time before. I lost, as well. Then I played one time in the challenger and lost, as well. I was 0-3 head to head against him. That also played in the head a little bit.
But yeah, it's quite tough when you're losing to the guy three times. Anyway your ranking is higher, it's still tough to get your head right for that match.
Yeah, last time we played in the league, I hold my racquet for one day and then we went to play him, as well, so it was quite 50/50 matchup.
Q. Elena, another great start to the year. We spoke about it the other day. Is there anything in particular about the conditions in Australia that you think suit your game?
ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I think the balls are flying quite fast here. This is good for my game. Courts also they're not that slow. I like when it's faster. Of course it helps me a lot. Today I also served pretty well, so yeah, happy with the performance.
Q. A great week in Perth with the team. Is there anything, maybe a highlight from your week in Perth, a favorite memory?
ELENA RYBAKINA: (Indiscernible), I think. Yeah, overall, it was really good week, fun week, it passed very fast, at least for me, and looking forward to come to Sydney.
Q. Good luck in Sydney.
ELENA RYBAKINA: Thank you.
Q. Sascha, just another one in terms of the heat, what sort of physical symptoms were you experiencing when it was at its worst?
ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: I had headache, shortness of breath. I mean, I had everything. But the more was concerning that the head was spinning. You know, I couldn't get -- dizzy, exactly. My concentration was off.
So I was planning to take a medical, but in the end, I was not allowed to take one. I don't know why. Probably there is the rules. I didn't know about it.
It got better, because I switched up my game as well because of that. I started to play more aggressively. Actually, if this would not happen with that, I don't know what would happen, you know. So maybe it's actually brought me the win today, because I started to play more aggressively because I didn't want to run for a lot of rallies.
Q. Elena, you also played when it was really hot. Do you feel like that -- wasn't as hot in the morning, but do you feel that's good preparation for the Australian Open and what you're going to get there?
ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, well, it was not that hot since we played at 10:00. I think it's a good preparation obviously for Melbourne because the weather, unpredictable, and I think today we didn't have, like, long rallies, so for me was better, of course. I was feeling good on the court physically.
ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: It was probably three degrees less.
CAPTAIN ALEKSANDR NEDOVYESOV: No, maybe Elena is just tougher than Sascha. (Laughter.)
ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: She's fitter and tougher. That's the reason.
Q. Elena, I think that second set you lost four points on your serve. How confident are you in your serve at the moment? Sounds like it's where you want to be ahead of the Australian Open.
ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, today I was serving really well. I was also a little bit surprised because other days it was ups and downs. Today I think the percentage was good. Also I did, I don't know how many aces, but I was pretty happy overall. Yeah, hopefully I can continue like this till the end of Australian Open.
Q. Alex, I'm not sure too many people would have picked Kazakhstan to be through to the final four but you're here now. How good does it feel?
ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: It feels amazing. If you would ask me that we would be in the semis, I would probably doubt it, but I mean, Elena is winning --
CAPTAIN ALEKSANDR NEDOVYESOV: Why would you doubt it?
ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: I doubt it because of me (laughter), just because of me, because, I mean, Elena is always bringing the point no matter what, and I have more confidence in her than in myself, to be honest (smiling).
But yeah, I think I did also great job, you know, just winning the matches, because pressure is on me because I always know that Elena is going to make the point, and I look at her and I said [expletive] I need to make that one point as well.
Yeah, it's just great. We are going to Sydney. Let's not stop on that, and maybe we can make a final. Maybe we're gonna win the whole thing, and it's just going to be great.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports