BILLIE JEAN KING CUP: SPAIN VS UKRAINE

September 17, 2025

Illya Marchenko

Elina Svitolina

Marta Kostyuk

Team Ukraine

Quarter-Final Press Conference

E. SVITOLINA/P. Badosa

5-7, 6-2, 7-5

Team Ukraine - 2

Team Spain - 0

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference with Team Ukraine.

Illya, can we have your thoughts on the tie today.

CAPTAIN ILLYA MARCHENKO: Obviously we are very happy. I mean, it was not perfect, but the result is perfect. We won both matches, and we are through.

Of course, I am really happy with the girls today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Marta, you obviously put the team right on track. Can you talk me through your match, what you think was the real difference, especially in the tiebreak in the first set.

MARTA KOSTYUK: Well, I was ready that I'm going to be nervous, because playing for the country, you want it or not, you always feel more responsibility. You want to win not just for yourself, but for the team, for the country.

The start was a little bit rough. She started really well. I managed to find my rhythm. I think it was really important game on 3-1 when I broke her back. Yeah, it was very important moment. I really didn't want to lose first set because I didn't want to play three sets.

Well, my record of tiebreaks is not the best this year (smiling). I really didn't want to play tiebreak, too. I feel like I was just trying to be there for every point. I think she just overdid a little bit. I think, I don't know, maybe it's not like this. Yeah, I was just patient, I was just there.

The second set I also started with the break down. Yeah, I managed to break back right away. It was easier then. Yeah, I mean, it's never easy to play these kind of matches. I'm really happy with the match today. I think it was a really good match. I think we both played good.

I played tactically really well. Whenever there was a mistake, I corrected it almost right away. Illya was helping me a lot on the bench. I think everything was good.

Q. Elina, your match was quite different, a bit of a marathon in the end. Talk me through what the difference felt like in the third set in particular.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, was a great match. To be fair, I feel like for Paula, as well. She can comment on that, but I felt like she was playing really well, serving good. I was expecting a tough battle because she's a good player. She can produce a very good match.

Yeah, very happy with the way I could stay strong. I wouldn't say it was my greatest performance, but for the team, for the country, it's difficult to produce a perfect match.

In the end I'm very happy I could stay strong and really tough. Yeah, got the win, closing win, for Team Ukraine to qualify for semifinals for the first time. It's such a historical moment for us.

Yeah, I'm very pleased with that.

Q. Elina, now you're about to face Italy in the semifinals. This year you played two times against Paolini. How different could it be on this surface compared to Paris or Australia?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, it's definitely going to be a new day, new match. I'm expecting a tough battle. She's a good player. She had a tough match yesterday, as well. I will do my best tactically with the team to prepare the best I can. Also tomorrow is our day off, so we have little bit of recovery, little bit of working on the court. Yeah, just go from there.

It's semifinals. You never know what to expect. Going to be a lot of nerves, so we have to deal with that. Yeah, it's going to be really interesting tie.

Q. Illya, you are lucky to have two great players here, very good doubles. How is the atmosphere on the team for this week? How did you feel that compared to other experiences you had with the team?

CAPTAIN ILLYA MARCHENKO: As you said, I have not only two good players, I have five or more great players in our country.

The atmosphere is great. I'm really happy with the girls dealing with each other. Yeah, we having fun. We feel the honor and responsibility to represent Ukraine in this competition because the times are very difficult for our country. Every win is important. Everybody in the team knows that. We are really trying our best.

Q. You mentioned, Elina, it's an historic moment for your team, for your country. Can you talk more about maybe the weight of that, but also the drive that that gives you to make history for Ukraine in this competition.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, for me, I think for all the girls in the team, it's important to inspire the next generation. Because of the war, the invasion, I think our sport has been thrown back by many years. It's important to have these moments, moments of joy, just quick moments.

I'm happy to be part of the great team. Happy to be part of the team that brings these little wins. Yeah, everybody is back in Ukraine watching. We have a live free stream of our matches. Everybody's behind the screens, supporting us. It's amazing moment for us.

Yeah, I feel like we need more moments like that. I feel it inspires Ukrainians to continue going on a daily basis when it's really difficult.