THE MODERATOR: What is everyone looking to get out of the week here in Perth?
BILLY HARRIS: Get some wins out of the week. Yeah, strong start hopefully. Yeah, we've got a good team and keep the momentum going throughout the week.
TIM HENMAN: I'll second that. Yeah, as Captain, it's been great to get everyone together, flown in from all different parts of the world, and we've had some really good practice and, you know, building that team bond and looking forward to get going.
Certainly appreciate that there's going to be tough opposition. Got some great players here, but looking forward to getting started.
THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up to questions.
Q. Emma, I know it will be your debut here at the United Cup, which I'm sure is obviously exciting. Why did you want to play the United Cup? Was it something about the format, or why did you want to start your year here?
EMMA RADUCANU: I think it's a great way to start the year being part of a team environment. It's a little bit easier to kind of settle into the year, which is so competitive and individual. It's nice to share this with the team.
We all get on really well and have been having a great time off the court and on the court. It's nice to be a part of that, and it's such a change from what we usually do.
Yeah, for me I'm just really happy to represent GB and have the opportunity to and also play in such a beautiful place and see Perth.
Q. Talking about your 2025 year, I think you just got into the top 30. I think you're 29th right now, which you worked your way up for that. How do you hope to build that or carry that momentum into this new year?
EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think for me it's just about stacking the good days. I've been putting in some good practices. Even if each practice isn't as perfect as you want it to be, I think just the consistency of it is the most important thing. That's what really helped me last year.
So I just hope to carry that on and enjoy the tennis, enjoy the process of what I'm doing, which right now I am.
Q. Talking about your two scheduled singles matches against Naomi and Maria, former top-10 players, what do you think of them as opponents, especially for them being your first two matches this season?
EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, very difficult matches. I played both of them last year. Really difficult. Obviously Naomi had a great end to the season as well. I'm expecting tough ones.
Yeah, just hope to give it all and do my best.
Q. Katie and Olivia, for both of you, what are you hoping to get out of the week here in Perth? Maybe will we see you in doubles potentially?
OLIVIA NICHOLLS: It's great to be part of the United Cup again. I played last year. It's an amazing event. Really enjoyable for all of us to be part of this experience. I always personally really enjoy playing mixed doubles.
So we haven't really fully discussed who is going to play yet, but me and Neal played a practice set with the Italians yesterday, which we really enjoyed. It will be our first time playing together. Neal is obviously an incredible doubles player.
Hopefully we can use his experience and expertise to help us on the mixed doubles court.
KATIE SWAN: Same for me. It's been a while since I've been part of the Great Britain team in any capacity. Last time was probably with Tim at the first United Cup in Sydney, and I loved every part of that experience. I'm really happy to be back here with this team.
Like Emma said, we've had a great atmosphere going on this week. It's great to be practicing with everyone here. A really fun way to start 2026.
Q. Neal, I'll throw one to you about mixed doubles and how it can decide a tie. I assume that that's exciting to potentially be able to play a tie-clinching match for your team if it comes to that.
NEAL SKUPSKI: Yeah, hopefully I'll be able to get out there and play a bit of mixed doubles. Really enjoy the format. Played it many times over the years in Grand Slams.
Yeah, as Liv said, we played yesterday against the Italians. We've always had a lot of success, so it was kind of a nice barometer to see where we are as a team.
Yeah, if whoever Tim puts out, yeah, we're very looking forward to it. It's going to be very difficult opponents in Greece and Japan, but yeah, it's going to be a crucial point. But at the end of the day, we'll give everything for Team GB.
Q. Jan, can I ask you what you are hoping to get out of this week?
JAN CHOINSKI: Yeah, just watch some great matches. You know, I'm happy to be here for the third time. Haven't managed to clock a single minute yet (laughing), but looking forward to spending the week with the team and to support and do whatever I can, practice, you know, get ready for Australian Open quallies and just enjoy my time here.
Q. Billy, can you talk about your thoughts about when you learned of Jack's unfortunate withdrawal, but that gives you the opportunity to play for a second consecutive year on a big stage.
BILLY HARRIS: Yeah, I was training at the National Centre, and obviously Jack was training throughout December. And then I was staying ready just in case he couldn't make it out here and then found out the news I think on just the day before Christmas.
Yeah, in my head I was preparing as if I could play, so yeah. Unfortunate that Jack couldn't make it, but yeah, great opportunity for myself.
Q. You had two really competitive matches against Hubie and Etcheverry last year, I believe. You feel that you're ready to break through for a big win hopefully on this stage?
BILLY HARRIS: Yeah, it was good to play last year. I thought brought a good level to the court last year. But yeah, this time just looking to get some wins for the team. That's the most important thing.
Q. Tim, question to you. Just your thoughts generally on the team's chances to advance past the group stage?
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, look, I really like what I've seen the last few days here practicing, as I said. You know, there is that really great camaraderie amongst the whole team and the work ethic. The intensity in practice has been fantastic.
We certainly appreciate that we still got more work to be done when we get out on the court. We probably are going to be the underdogs, but I sort of feel that that gives us the freedom with nothing to lose and lots to gain, whatever the result. I think it is a great opportunity, a great way for everyone to start the year.
It's my first visit to Perth. The facilities and everything have been absolutely first class. Yeah, looking forward to it.
Q. Emma, when you reflect on the last couple of years of your growth as a player, what are the areas you are most proud of your development?
EMMA RADUCANU: I would say I'm most proud of especially in the last year just stacking good days consistently. I've been doing that a lot more and can see the benefits of that.
I think physically I also improved. I became fitter, so I was able to play more matches and more tournaments on the road. That just gives us more opportunities to get some points here and there and also have good weeks when you're in a good run of momentum to kind of carry that through three, four, five matches.
So yeah, that was a really good benefit for me as well.
I think also, just my approach to playing. I've been a lot better, a lot more composed, but at the same time enjoying it a lot more again. That's been a big win for me.
Q. With respect to 2026, how do you turn those good days into great days, those good weeks into great weeks, those fourth-rounders into quarterfinals and semis?
EMMA RADUCANU: I think it's easy to think ahead about results, but the days are passing so quickly when you're focused on your own session and the things that you can control. I think I have good people around me as well now, so it makes things easier. It makes the days go by in a really fun way, enjoyable way, but at the same time putting in a lot of good work.
So yeah, hoping to stay consistent for 2026.
Q. Good luck with the United Cup coming up. We had a chance to go to Rottnest with the team a few days ago. You looked like a tight-knit group. You enjoy everyone's company. What is it about the team? Is it just playing in a team environment and because it's an individual sport, mainly that you sort of embrace that team atmosphere? What is it about Team GB that makes it so special, makes it so enjoyable for you guys?
TIM HENMAN: Look, as Captain, I've obviously been a player in these types of environments, and for the vast majority of your years and your career, you're playing as an individual. To come together to represent your country I think has always been and will continue to be the greatest honor.
And then to have that bond, that friendship, and to be teammates rather than rivals is very special. Then when you add into that the uniqueness of this event, to be in two cities with 18 nations, best players in the world, the first week of the year in the lead-up to a Grand Slam, I think it is absolutely ideal in every way.
As a Captain, I'm excited about it. When you hear this group of players talk about it, they are ready to go as well.
Q. We've seen obviously there's a bit of rivalry between Australia and Great Britain or England when it comes to cricket. Is there any translation to tennis at all, or is it very much you guys sort of colleagues almost playing tennis against one another?
TIM HENMAN: Is there any sport we're not competitive in against Australia?
Q. I don't know. I don't think so.
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, we're competitors. It doesn't matter whether we're playing individually or as a nation. The cricket hasn't been ideal for England, but that's certainly out of our control. We want to come out and put our best foot forward in this environment.
But you know, the whole England/Australia rivalry I think is brilliant. It's going to be continuing for many more years irrespective of the sport.
Q. Does it mean more playing against them and getting a win?
TIM HENMAN: When you are giving 100%, you can't give more than that. It's kind of irrespective of the opposition. We all give 100% to everything we do and whether that's in our preparation or our performance.
Look, we understand the history of England/Australia, but whether we're up against Japan and Greece, we'll be doing our best against them.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports