UNITED CUP

January 5, 2026

Stan Wawrinka

Belinda Bencic

Jakub Paul

Luca Castelnuovo

Naima Karamoko

Team Switzerland

Press Conference

Switzerland - 2

Italy - 1

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on a great win. What did it take in the deciding mixed doubles match to get over the line tonight?

STAN WAWRINKA: Well, we living in Belinda's world again (smiling). She's showing us why we here again.

Kubi was spot on. He put back the energy. Both, they playing really good together. I think they know what they do. They are an amazing team. We could see from the side how well they can play. They're always putting pressure on them.

Yeah, so proud of them.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Jakub and Belinda, probably the best mixed doubles team in the world, played together so many times. You haven't played together so many times. Why do you think you've been able to click so quickly and perform at such a high level?

BELINDA BENCIC: I think it just starts with the team energy. Like, we didn't see each other much before this, but we make sure we're bonding, doing stuff together. I think this makes such a big difference. In the important moments, you just feel like everyone is behind you, you're not letting yourself go even if you have a low moment.

For sure Kubi was MVP today. He made it so easy to play together. We really have a great vibe. Of course, it's not easy to beat them. Somehow we made it possible. It's not like we want to play them again (smiling).

It was nice. Hopefully we can play next one.

Q. Jakub, how is your week going?

JAKUB PAUL: It's going quite good, I would say (smiling).

No, I'm just really happy. It was also an honor just to play two times with Belinda. As she said, we had just great energy on court. Maybe it's also kind of the Czech/Slovak blood that we're playing so good together.

BELINDA BENCIC: The Swiss blood.

JAKUB PAUL: The Swiss blood, playing for Swiss (smiling), the Czech background.

Also, just an honor that Stan puts the trust in me to let me play the mixed doubles, that he believes in me. Yeah, that's just amazing to have such support also from the bench. It's a great atmosphere we have in the team.

Q. Stan, three days into the season, you've played six sets, six hours. Have you thought this plan fully through to play another year? You're working very hard. Kidding, of course. Your match today, must have been very happy with your level.

STAN WAWRINKA: It's my last year, so I need to spend the maximum of time on the court, so I make sure that happen in every match.

Yeah, was tough one. I think the level was great. I think Flavio was playing really good tennis. He did what he needed when he needed to win. He was putting a lot of pressure. It was not easy to find solution.

In general I'm quite happy with my level. Of course, I would have loved to win it. But they finished the job. We are happy as a team. That is the most important.

For me, I have two days in a row, two big match. I can see that physically I'm good. I'm feeling good at the beginning of the year. Tennis-wise also. I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep improving for the next one.

Q. Belinda, in 2025 you played Jasmine twice. Matches can't compare. How nice was it to beat her, especially in the same tournament?

BELINDA BENCIC: Yeah, it's very nice to get the revenge, of course, also in the singles, but also as a team. She's a really good player. I'm really happy with my level today.

Again, yeah, great support from the bench. Was some key moments where it was really important because I had a little bit in my head the last few matches what I did wrong, some situations. So I'm really happy I overcome myself in this.

Yeah, that's it.

Q. As it gets late into the hours of the night, some of the crowd have gone home, how do you stay motivated, keep the high energy?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, I think we love what we doing. We passionate about being here. Of course, we love it when there's a lot of fans, a lot of people, amazing atmosphere. We understand it's super late. It's not easy to spend so much time, especially when there's kids, on the court.

For us it doesn't change. If there is 100 person or 10,000, we're still going to fight maximum, enjoy what we are doing. Here we are as a team. It's great support. We try to keep the energy there. We want to win. We love that.

Q. Stan, when you're in the match you're just focused on trying to win the match. It being your final year, is there anything liberating about knowing that you go on the court, empty the tank, leave everything out there?

STAN WAWRINKA: I wish and I would love that (smiling). If you saw today, didn't happen. In the tiebreak, I was a little bit hesitation. I got a little bit hesitation in my game. At the end of the day I'm a competitor. I always want to do my best. I always try to win.

Tennis is physical, but it's also mental. It's not that simple to play freely. To just go for your shot, that mean you don't really care so much. I care too much sometimes.

I love what I'm doing. I always going to fight. Even with the loss, I still enjoyed the match today.

Q. Maybe something has happened behind the scenes, but how confident are you that you'll get a wild card for the Australian Open?

STAN WAWRINKA: I don't know actually. For me, I'm taking week after week. When I receive good news like I did for playing here and the wild card for Auckland, I'm super happy. I'm super happy when I receive one. When I don't receive, that's all good, I'm going to go for the next tournament.

Q. Do you think Stan deserves a wild card for the Australian Open?

BELINDA BENCIC: It's not even a question. I don't know what they're waiting for.

LUCA CASTELNUOVO: It's a no-brainer.