UNITED CUP

December 28, 2023

Colin Beecher

Cameron Norrie

Daniel Evans

Neal Skupski

Katie Boulter

Francesca Jones

Maia Lumsden

Great Britain

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the Team GB press conference.

First of all, Captain, how excited are you to be here in Perth with Team GB? How are you ready for the tournament?

CAPTAIN COLIN BEECHER: Yeah, obviously very excited. It was obviously a pleasure to be asked by Cam to be captain. We got here on the 24th to give ourselves a great opportunity and preparation.

Yeah, so far it's been thoroughly enjoyable.

THE MODERATOR: We'll go to Katie. How are you feeling ahead of the tournament? How are the teammates and the atmosphere going for you?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, it's been really fun for me. It's obviously a great way to start the year. I haven't been at this competition before, so it's something new and exciting for me. I'd say that the teammates, they're okay, I guess (smiling).

No, I'm enjoying my time. They're fun to be around. My preparations have been going really well, thanks.

THE MODERATOR: Cam, beginning of the year, how are you ready for the season and for the tournament with Team GB?

CAMERON NORRIE: Like Katie said, it's always nice to start the year as a team, play guaranteed matches. It's nice to have Beechy along with us. He's been very professional, very organized. Yeah, we all love playing as a team. We're all excited to get going.

THE MODERATOR: Dan, similar question, but how has it been with your teammates, atmosphere? Are you getting along very well?

DANIEL EVANS: Yeah, it's been good to be out here as a team at the start of the year. Yeah, we're all looking forward to do well. Hopefully Katie and Cam get a win tomorrow and we start the tournament with a win, which I'm sure they will.

THE MODERATOR: How is this time different with women and that mix up for you?

NEAL SKUPSKI: Yeah, it's been great. I've only been used to Davis Cup. This is my first year playing United Cup. I'll getting excited to supporting the girls, supporting the guys. It's a new thing for me.

Yeah, team getting along very well. We've bonded really quick. We've started practicing from the 24th. Looking forward to getting started tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Maia, how are you feeling? How has it been with your teammates here? How ready are you for this tournament?

MAIA LUMSDEN: It's really good. A new experience for me to be part of an event like this. Yeah, I've been enjoying it. It's really good to be around everyone in the team.

THE MODERATOR: Open the floor for questions.

Q. Cam, you beat Alex, not in Perth but in this tournament last year in Australia. Home crowd tomorrow, first time he's played in Perth in a long time. How are you feeling heading into this matchup?

CAMERON NORRIE: I'm really excited. I always have tough matches with Alex. We both know each other pretty well. We practice with each other a lot.

Yeah, I'm going to have to run a lot. I think both of us will. Yeah, it's going to be a tough one. Yeah, no better way to open up the match playing Australia here with this amazing stadium.

Yeah, it's great to start the event as a team. Yeah, I think we're all looking forward to taking it to Australia. I think it's going to be pretty interesting to see if Katie actually supports me or not in the match.

KATIE BOULTER: Burn (laughter).

CAMERON NORRIE: No, we're all looking forward to it.

Q. How important is it for you to take the crowd out of it, and get a few points on the board early silence them?

CAMERON NORRIE: I think it's going to be great. I think I'm going to have to embrace the crowd. The atmosphere hopefully is going to be really good. It's part of it, you know? I played him in Sydney. The crowd was great there, too.

I'm really just excited to feel the atmosphere and just really enjoy the team aspect of it. I got my whole team behind me to open up the first match, so...

Yeah, it's going to be good.

Q. Katie, Alex yesterday pulled out of the mixed doubles. Have you had anything to say about him?

KATIE BOULTER: I think it was a double bluff, to be completely honest. I don't know who is going to be playing for them. I think we're going to be prepared for anything. We'll see on the day who is better.

Q. Tomljanovic, how are you preparing that one?

KATIE BOULTER: I'm looking forward to it. We knew the draws quite early. Had quite a lot of time to prepare and sort my tactics. She's an incredible player. She's beaten a lot of really highly ranked players herself. She's very well-established.

I think I'm going to have to play some very good tennis, especially in front of an Australian crowd. Expecting it to be a little bit rowdy out there. I think I'm going to use it, really relish the moment and enjoy it. It's the start of a new season and, yeah, can't wait to get going.

Q. Dan, recent weeks have been frustrating for you. How are you feeling physically? Are you over the injury now or still a few niggles?

DANIEL EVANS: No, I'm getting there. Obviously took a while to recover. Yeah, last few weeks were good. I got to practice full. Yeah, the event worked out perfect for my recovery in the end.

Yeah, it's been great. Come here and practice and watch Cam and Katie. Yeah, hopefully get some wins. Yeah, it's just great to be a part of. I'm fit.

Q. Katie, if it came down to a mixed doubles, and your other half was across the net, would you go at him?

KATIE BOULTER: Yes, obviously. I want to win.

No, I think whatever happens is going to be a great match. But, yeah, I'll be playing completely seriously. Whoever plays with me, I'm sure will be working as hard as they can to get a win, just like I will be.

Q. Cam, how different is this United Cup to other team events?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I mean, I don't know really. I think it's always nice to represent your country. Yeah, I think it's always different starting the year as a team. It seems to be changing, the event and the format, year in, year out. Always getting used to that.

Yeah, I'm excited, and always love playing as a team.

Q. Cam, you guys drew probably the hardest group in this entire tournament, Australia and USA. Second-chance opportunity for those quarterfinals almost seems out of reach for these three teams. Does that put an emphasis more on each individual match and each tie?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, we're not really looking at that too much. I think we're just going to take it match by match. Anything can happen.

You don't really know how the other teams and groups are going to do. I mean, we're going to fight for every match. Yeah, not really thinking about that too much. Really just trying to beat each team.

Q. How important is the United Cup in terms of your years? It's a long way to come to play here. How important is it?

CAMERON NORRIE: I mean, yeah, it's nice to have these events like this, especially the mixed events. I think it's, like I said, nice to start the year as a team. You got guaranteed matches. You're playing in Australia, and you're getting used to the conditions.

I think they've done a really good job and made it as exciting as possible for the fans. Yeah, hopefully we get a lot of British support out there.

Q. Does the format add a layer of unpredictability that doesn't exist in other tournaments?

CAMERON NORRIE: Yeah, I mean, with the mixed doubles. Yeah, you never know. Obviously none of us really play too much mixed doubles. It definitely makes it interesting.

Q. Maia, long COVID, is that all past you now?

MAIA LUMSDEN: Yeah, all past. I've been back fully healthy for the last year or so. That's good.

Q. Your elbow injury?

MAIA LUMSDEN: That was bothering me start of last year. Yeah, it's all behind me now.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.