UNITED CUP

January 2, 2026

Christopher Heyman

Zizou Bergs

Elise Mertens

Kimmer Coppejans

Greet Minnen

Lara Salden

Team Belgium

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Team Belgium, welcome back to United Cup. This is your first appearance since 2023. We want to hear from the captain how the preparation has been going and a little bit of a preview for your first tie tomorrow against Team China.

CHRISTOPHER HEYMAN: So we arrived on time, I would say. We've had a couple of days of really good prep, good team management. We had a nice team dinner on New Year's, so the vibe, the energy is pretty good.

Besides that, yeah, this team is very experienced I would say. We've got Elise, very experienced player. And Zizou, who has got the young energy here.

ZIZOU BERGS: For your information, I'm already 26 years old (smiling).

CHRISTOPHER HEYMAN: But the young energy is still there (smiling).

No, no, but all of us, we know each other many, many years now. We're feeling really good and we're ready to go.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up for questions.

Q. Zizou and Kimmer, obviously you're coming back to Sydney after an incredible victory a few months ago. Do you feel you'll be able to channel that energy from that performance returning here?

ZIZOU BERGS: Yeah, well, it's a different format. It's a different team. If we can copy that, that would be unreal to copy that performance that we did. Yeah, I mean, circumstances are different, so let's see.

But it's just very nice to come back here to see all the memories that we had here in September, all the nice parties we had in September, so...

Hopefully to feel some of those nice wins again.

Q. Sander was listed on the team. I don't see him here. Are you planning to play mixed doubles with Elise?

ZIZOU BERGS: That's going to be a nice secret who's going to play, yeah? Maybe it's me, maybe it's Kimmer. Maybe we play with Greet or Lara. We're not going to give anything (smiling).

Q. Is Sander coming?

ZIZOU BERGS: He's coming, yeah.

Q. Kimmer, how nice is it to start your season in the team atmosphere a little different than the rest of the year?

KIMMER COPPEJANS: Yeah, I think it's just great to start the year here, especially with a lot of people that I know very well, that I've known for a long time.

Yeah, it's just great atmosphere to have. It's a different setting. We're, yeah, playing individually the whole year. For me it's really nice to be here. I'm enjoying every practice, every second I can spend with the team.

Yeah, I would say it's a great way to start the year.

Q. Elise, you were practicing the mixed doubles. As someone with a lot of experience, how nice is it that mixed doubles has such an importance here? What tips do you have for your young energy Zizou?

ELISE MERTENS: It's very nice because I've never really played mixed doubles, except for last time at the United Cup, too. But it's been three years ago.

No, very happy that it is an important point, if it's 1-All of course. Yeah, I think it's a lot of fun, especially playing in this format as a team.

But yeah, some tips? Your energy is big and I like it. We have to, I don't know, be at the net, great serve. Just have some fun, too.

ZIZOU BERGS: Valuable tips. Thank you (smiling).

ELISE MERTENS: It's a secret.