00:00Anne, I'll start with a question for you.
00:16Tough battle today.
00:17Can you give us your thoughts on the tie overall?
00:20Yeah, really tough today.
00:22But, you know, I think the players either side of me should still hold their heads high.
00:27You know, I think we really took it to the American team this evening and the matches were close.
00:35There were chances in both matches, you know, in the second set for both players.
00:40And, you know, this, like I've said throughout the week, this competition is really important to all of us.
00:46And I think you could show how much, you could see how much it meant to the players competing out there, how much they wanted it.
00:53You know, they threw everything at it, but came up short and that's sport for you.
00:59It wasn't to be this time, but, you know, we'll have another opportunity next year.
01:33We have questions in English.
01:40I'm going to start with Katie.
01:44That was really unlucky out there today.
01:46When you started the match, you looked like you were picking up where you left off in the quarterfinal.
01:51You were so strong in that first set.
01:53What do you think went so right in that first set and how did the match change for you?
01:58I haven't really had time to look back at it yet, but I did notice on the scoreboard that my serving numbers were pretty high.
02:04I think they were in a really good place.
02:08I don't think they were as good in the second and third as they were in the first, but that's also a credit to her returning.
02:14I felt like she started to understand where I was going with the serve and playing some really good points off of it.
02:20But, yeah, I mean, I'll look back at the match.
02:23I honestly haven't really processed it that much right now, so it would be tough for me to say.
02:27I know it's always tough to lose from kind of a winning position or a leading position,
02:32but you both played against two world-class players, two really highly ranked players as well.
02:38I wonder what are the things you're most proud of from this tie in particular?
02:44For me personally, I always love walking out there and playing for my country, I think.
02:52For me, it's where I get my biggest wins and my lowest losses as well.
02:57But you know what?
02:58At the same time, I know it's going to motivate me for a very long time.
03:01And, obviously, a match like that against a top-quality player, I can't expect myself to win every time.
03:08But I'm actually at a stage now that I expect myself to win those matches, which is why it hurts more.
03:14But I think that's a good thing.
03:15I think that shows the level that I'm at.
03:17I think I take the positive side of that.
03:19And, yeah, I'm pleased with myself and how I put myself out there this week and started the week from start to finish.
03:26I think it was really good.
03:28Just one for Anne.
03:28Anne, this is the third semi-final in the last four years.
03:32Obviously, it's a tough loss to take today.
03:34But that's really positive, those results over the last few years.
03:38Can you talk a little bit about, yeah, the pride you have in this team and in those results?
03:44Yeah, I think as a team, we've come such a long way.
03:48You know, it's my year as captain.
03:50And, you know, the fact that we're competing to reach the final in this.
03:54And we've shown consistency in recent years, challenging the very best.
03:58And our ambition is still very much to lift that trophy one day.
04:03But to lift that trophy, you've got to beat some of the best players in the world.
04:06But I do believe we have players who are capable of it.
04:10I mean, both players here this evening came close.
04:13And, you know, this will motivate us.
04:18And, you know, it's, yeah, I think it's just important to really remember how far we've come.
04:26But also, you know, they should feel proud of themselves.
04:30So, I think this competition takes a lot out of players.
04:34It's a busy schedule.
04:35But the fact that I've got a team of players here this week who show up, who take a huge amount of pride and joy in representing their nation and the environment we've created as a team.
04:47I think it's, you know, I'd like to think it's a joyful place for everyone to be and to be part of.
04:53So, yeah, we will continue to work and go after it again.
05:05Sonia, I was just wondering what you will take from this.
05:07What are the positives that you'll draw from it?
05:09I'm sure there's disappointment, but there must be things you can take with you for the next phase of the season.
05:14Yeah, obviously, you know, absolutely gutted.
05:16It was my first experience this year of playing the qualifiers and playing here.
05:21So, I think there's a lot of emotion that super, super gutted that we couldn't pull through it.
05:26But I think, you know, on a personal level, I think my level since Wimbledon has not been anywhere near what it has been and needs to be.
05:33And I feel like this is, you know, the match I played the other day was, for me, I didn't think it was my greatest match.
05:39But today, I feel like my form was much better.
05:41I was doing a lot of good things, stuff that I needed to do on the court and forcing myself.
05:45So, yeah, personally, I feel like I'm, hopefully, you know, I can take this match and give me the momentum that I was having the last few months.
05:54But, yeah, I'm obviously a super guide, but happy with how I performed and kind of how I carried myself out on the court today.
06:01And obviously, the tournament will be here next year.
06:04Does it kind of put the bit between your teeth to come back next time?
06:07For sure.
06:08You know, it's these weeks that I've always said are, you know, there are a few, I think, highlights in people's careers.
06:14And for me, playing these events is top three.
06:18You know, I don't take it, you know, it's a huge honor to represent your country.
06:23And I think that these are the most enjoyable weeks, the toughest weeks.
06:27Like Kate said, you know, it's tough when we get this close.
06:31But, yeah, it's been an unbelievable week for me.
06:35You know, I've loved every single second.
06:37And there are a lot of people behind the scenes that are going above and beyond that helped me and Katie perform on the court today.
06:42So, yeah, I've absolutely loved it.
06:45And Katie, you say that you're expecting yourself to win these matches.
06:48Do you think that's just representative of the upwards trajectory that you're on?
06:52And if you weren't moving on that upwards trajectory, perhaps you wouldn't have that sense of expectation?
06:58Yeah, I feel like I don't really gauge my level sometimes by my ranking.
07:03I think the last few weeks, my level hasn't been where I expect myself to be.
07:11But I feel like I've been on an upward trajectory now for a while.
07:15And I'm kind of not shocked that I've had a little dip.
07:17And I also expect myself to kind of hit the bottom and then jump back up again.
07:22You know, I feel like my motivation's back.
07:26I feel like it's there every single day.
07:28And it's a really nice feeling to have because I don't take that for granted.
07:31I think the last couple months have been tough.
07:33So, yeah, my level is back.
07:35I know what I'm capable of expecting myself to win that today.
07:38As I said before, it hurts.
07:40But I think it does show what I can do out there.
07:44And, you know, I do hope that people like that don't want to see my name in a drawer as well.
07:49So, yeah, I know what I can do sometimes.
07:59Yeah, I'll start with Katie.
08:01I'd like to know, on this surface in particular, what are the main challenges of playing against Jessica side game?
08:08Sorry, what are the challenges?
08:09Thinking about the tennis game, what are the challenges part of facing Jessica on this kind of surface?
08:16Yeah, I mean, Jessie, I've played her two times now, both on a hard court, one on a faster one.
08:23Today was slower.
08:25She's a very good ball striker.
08:28I feel like you have to play the perfect point to kind of win it.
08:32And she makes you go for more and more.
08:34And she moves extremely well, but also can punish you if you don't hit it properly.
08:41So, yeah, she's obviously one of the best players in the world.
08:44I have a lot of respect for her.
08:46Yeah, you know, she's been around top 10 for a very long time now.
08:49And I'm sure she'll stay there for a fair amount of time.
08:53And Tuan, now it's a few years we are playing with this format.
08:57And how stimulating could be for the future, knowing that you are doing great, Ukraine this year could be easily in the final, we have two finalists, China indeed is a great team, Chet's Republic will come.
09:09So, how stimulating is knowing that now you have a format where you have a lot of teams that every year could come to try to win, despite the nomination themselves?
09:19How stimulating is knowing that now you have a lot of teams, it's not even, it seems it's less about nominations, but now you have groups, more teams.
09:43I mean, look, there are a lot of strong teams out there and, you know, I'm sorry, I've just lost my train of thought.
09:55It's, you know, we'll have another opportunity come April, I guess we don't know who we play in April until they play the playoffs in November.
10:03But we're back to the home and away ties in April.
10:07And, you know, it's, like I said, this is a competition that means a lot to us.
10:14And, you know, I think as a team we have found our rhythm and everyone's kind of roles and responsibilities are clear.
10:23You know, the ambition is still very much the same.
10:28And, you know, I feel, you know, it's a collective goal for all of us.
10:33And, you know, we won't rest until we get there.
10:40Thanks, everyone.
10:44Yes.
10:44Yes.
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