United States-3
China-0
THE MODERATOR: First question for Michael, what are some things the team did well this week that you hope to carry over to Sydney?
CAPTAIN MICHAEL RUSSELL: I mean, I think the energy was great all week. The support not only from playing Coco and Taylor, but just everyone on the bench really bringing a lot of positive vibes.
I think with each match they played better and better, and it's a good sign going into Sydney.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. I'll start with you, Taylor. A really clinical serving performance, especially only four points dropped to a game. Do you feel like this is the most comfortable you've been on serve?
TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I've been serving well, but I think today just in general in the match I felt a lot more just, like, calm. I was thinking more clearly in today's match than maybe the other one. Definitely felt a bit more kind of like, I don't know, kind of like myself. Definitely thought I played the best today.
Q. Des, I want to come to you next. Taylor said before the tournament that you've been a cheerleader the last few years. How nice was it to get on court there?
DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: It's on my résumé. No, it's been -- yeah, this is my third year, and it was really nice to get on court today and have the opportunity to play with Rob. It was a little dicey in the beginning, but we got through after sitting on the bench for a few hours.
DANIELLE COLLINS: Wait. Didn't at Super Nationals when we were juniors, didn't you say it was your dream to be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader? That was somebody else. Sorry. Sorry, guys.
DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: Danielle is 'delulu' right now. It's a little late. But no, it was not my dream.
COCO GAUFF: What is going on? That was not on topic at all.
DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: No, it was awesome to be out there and playing.
Q. Who came up with the nickname Gallirae?
DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: Who do you think?
Q. I want to say Danielle.
DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: No, this one.
COCO GAUFF: Gallirae, Gallirae.
DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: Yeah, it's Coco.
Q. Coco, coming to you next then. Shuai was returning pretty well in the first set. What did you have to do differently going into the second?
COCO GAUFF: In the words of Denis Kudla, "Just dig." That's it.
Q. Any elaboration on that?
TAYLOR FRITZ: Honestly, though, I was like -- every time I was coming to the bench, my face was just flustered because she was playing so well. I was just trying to get out of those points.
She was playing aggressive. It was hard for me to get her on defense. Literally digging the points out and just trying my best to get on the board when I could.
Q. Taylor, you've grown into the tournament with every match you've played. It looks like you've just kind of added a bit more and a bit more. How have you felt your confidence built over the last three matches?
TAYLOR FRITZ: Definitely winning the second match and feeling good today. It's normal to have a bit of a break from playing matches and kind of coming into the new season and still trying to improve each match and figure out some things. So probably would have felt better if I had served out my first match, confidence-wise. Yeah, getting the last two definitely makes me feel really good going into Sydney.
Q. Obviously you've only played three matches this season so far. How much confidence are you going to take from the fact that you could put in a serving performance like that just three games in?
TAYLOR FRITZ: I mean, it gives me a lot of confidence because it's such a big part of my game obviously. Hopefully in the upcoming matches in Sydney I keep that serve rhythm and we keep it going, and I'll take a lot of confidence into the rest of the season if we can follow these matches up with two more wins in Sydney.
Q. Coco, first United Cup. Kind of still going. You said coming in you wanted to embrace the team atmosphere, you wanted to embrace the challenge of it. Has it ticked the boxes so far?
COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I'm having so much fun. We have a great team, great vibes all around, and excited that we were able to move on to the next round of the tournament and hopefully all the way to the end.
Q. How does a tournament like this where it's team-based compare to the matches you're going to get in a Grand Slam? Is it comparable at all?
COCO GAUFF: I mean, I want to win all the time, so I wouldn't say it's more stakes or not. Definitely a lot more relaxed on the changeovers, laughing a little bit more, you know, just talking. In general, things that we don't get when we're playing our regular tournament.
Yeah, I think it's great to start the year off on this relaxed vibe, especially coming from offseason, which is pretty chill. Yeah, I think this is a good transition into our regular schedule.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports