BILLIE JEAN KING CUP: JAPAN VS GREAT BRITAIN

September 18, 2025

Anne Keothavong

Katie Boulter

Sonay Kartal

Team Great Britain

Quarter-Final Press Conference

K. BOULTER/M. Uchijima

6-2, 6-1

Team Great Britain - 2

Team Japan - 0

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on reaching the semifinals. A question for Anne. Could you please give us your thoughts about how the tie went today.

CAPTAIN ANNE KEOTHAVONG: Yeah, look, I'm really proud of the women either side of me. I thought they did a great job today getting the job done in straight sets in both matches.

Like I said before this competition started, I felt like we've prepared as well as possible. It was, yeah, just professional performances from both.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Katie, that was a really clinical performance I'd say. I think you converted every single break point you had. You held off break points. Talk me through the game plan going in and how well you executed it.

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I feel like the game plan we had going in was pretty simple. I think I focus very much on myself. One or two points of hers that I wanted to target. I felt like I executed really well.

Yeah, I'm really pleased with the way I played today. I feel like I'm a new version of myself these last couple of weeks. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to building some momentum off of this.

Q. A new version of yourself, is that just about being in a new environment with a team and also the Asia Swing starting as well, being able to reset?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I think so. I think I've struggled a little bit in the last few months kind of burning myself out a little bit. I feel like I've rejuvenated, spent a little bit of time at home, which I needed.

I think having the girls around really helps pick me up. I feel like I know what my identity is on the court, what I'm trying to do.

But yeah, the last couple of months have been really tough for me. I'm just really excited to have some really good motivation going into the end of the year. It's a really exciting prospect for me because, yeah, it's been tough.

Q. Sonay, I thought you looked very composed. Even when your opponent was starting to find her feet, looked like you were internally keeping the faith. Is that how you felt?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I think one of my biggest strengths on the court is you kind of look down the other end, you wouldn't really see any emotion, you wouldn't know if I was winning or losing from the sidelines.

I know their team pretty well. I know that me and Katie were not going to have an easy match at all. They're super tough competitors. They weren't going to give up at all.

Yeah, it was obviously a little bit closer in the second set than I would have liked. I still felt confident. Even being down in the tiebreak, I still felt like as long as there were a few things I had to remind myself, I felt like my game was there.

So yeah, I just wanted to keep the momentum going. But no, I felt pretty comfortable on the court today.

Q. We're a long way from home, but I think that was one of the most vocal crowds we've heard. Were you aware of that?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, the guys that follow us around, incredible. They really get behind us every single point. I think it makes a huge difference, having the girls on the sidelines, having the support within the crowd. We really don't take that for granted. In the tough moments, they help us get out of the dumps a little bit, I think kind of almost focus on the next point a little bit. When you've got them singing and screaming in your ear, it's definitely a super fun environment to play in.

Q. Katie, any thoughts about the semifinal? Do you relish the prospect of that?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I mean, it's another opportunity. We've been in this position twice before. I think me, myself, I know what to expect. We've got some world-class tennis players down the other end. They also don't know what we're capable of. I think we're all going to have a free swing and get after them, for sure.

Yeah, we've got nothing to lose. I'm very excited for this next tie.

Q. Anne, on the U.S. team, how much of today's tie were you able to watch? What are your thoughts? They have a lot of different options.

CAPTAIN ANNE KEOTHAVONG: Yeah, they've got options. We've got options, too (smiling). They're a strong team, but we're also a strong team. We're a united team.

Was I watching earlier? Absolutely. Pretty much most of the team were watching. We had it on in the background. We were following the match. Certainly the first match was really tight. That tie could have gone the other way.

So look, it's going to be tough, whoever they put out. But it's another opportunity for us. It's semifinals again. We've shown how consistent we've been in recent years in this competition. We're here for more. Yeah, we're just going to go after it.

Q. It feels from the way you guys are speaking a little bit like unfinished business from last year. Do you want to take that next step and see what can happen?

CAPTAIN ANNE KEOTHAVONG: Yeah, look, I think there's always going to be unfinished business in this competition for us - certainly I feel that as captain - until we one day lift the trophy (smiling).

Q. You have been in Shenzhen for a few days. What is your impression of the city? If you have time, how would you like to explore the city?

KATIE BOULTER: This is a new one.

CAPTAIN ANNE KEOTHAVONG: You've been out more than I have.

KATIE BOULTER: I mean, yeah, we've fallen in love with the coffee here. I think that's as far as we've gotten. We've stuck to the hotel. It's been really nice. I would love to go explore a little bit more. If you have any recommendations, that would be great. If we get a day off, then we might have a chance to get out there.

CAPTAIN ANNE KEOTHAVONG: Yeah, look, it's really comfortable for us here in Shenzhen. Where we're staying, it's a great location. I must admit I haven't really taken the opportunity to explore too much. I know a few of the other team members have made it out to the bay.

Time really hasn't allowed us to explore too much. But I know for the coffee lovers on the team, they found their spot. That keeps them happy.

I would add, the night of the reception, for those of us who were at the reception, for the rest of the team who weren't at the reception, they took the opportunity to go to a Cantonese restaurant, and they had a delicious meal.