UNITED CUP

January 1, 2026

Miguel Sanchez

Inigo Cervantes

Carlos Taberner

Jaume Munar

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

Andrea Lazaro Garcia

Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers

Team Spain

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: What is it like starting the year with a team event like this at United Cup in Perth?

JAUME MUNAR: Exciting, of course. Always happy to be down under. As everybody knows, we play individually during the year, so the feeling is great to be playing a team event to kick off the year.

I feel honored, as I always said, representing Spain and the flag and just looking forward for a great week. Happy, as I said, very happy to be here and very happy with everyone involved in the team.

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Same. Super happy to be back here in Perth. I was here last year. I enjoyed a lot. Yeah, we will try to do our best. Happy to be with this team, this amazing team. We will fight it.

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

Q. Jaume, you finished last year at a career-high 33 with 31 wins, which exceeded your combined wins the previous two years. What clicked for you last year?

JAUME MUNAR: Yeah, many things. I've been changing a lot of things during the last couple of years, three years, with all the team. Felt like I was ready enough to play the tennis I've been playing last year, and also feeling that I have still a long way to go and to discover.

Last year confidence, little bit better tennis, some more experience, and being more mature. I think it was a little bit of everything, a mix on all of that areas.

I don't know. Not much more. The feeling that I have, as I said, I have still big and beautiful path to go. Looking forward for more this year.

Q. Do you think this year you're ready to take out some big names, top-10 players, maybe even starting with Taylor here this week?

JAUME MUNAR: Well, I'm trying to get ready for that and to get prepared. Of course, my feeling is that my tennis level is there to compete with anyone. I proved myself last year that I was ready to do it at some point and looking to do it week by week.

So why not starting with Taylor, as you said? But more focused on the way and the performance I can do over along the full year than just on a match.

Q. Jessica, I know you finished your season at the ranking of 41. Obviously your career best. As you look now into 2026, how do you hope to transfer that strong progress into the new calendar year?

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Yeah, it was a good year. I mean, for this year I will expect to be more in the tournament, I don't know, to fight to every match against all the players here. Yeah, to start with the teams for me, it's really nice, because I enjoy to play it and for the first time in the year.

Yeah, keep going and trying to focus, keep working, trying to do my best with the best players in the world.

Q. How is it important for you to get off on the right foot in singles after your two good results in 2025?

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Yeah, I mean, I play against two amazing players. I know Solana since years ago. We practice a lot together. So I know that it's going to be a tough match. Of course, we will be ready for it.

Of course, Coco is one of the best players in the world. I'm really excited to play against her and to see where is my level and to fight it, for sure.

Q. Talking about the whole Aussie swing, in Melbourne you'll be in your second main draw. What are you hoping to get out of the whole swing?

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Yeah, I mean, I really like it. Last year I play against Sabalenka in second round and central court. It was a good experience.

I'm just focused right now in this tournament, here with the team, to start the season. For sure I will enjoy it. Yeah, I like to play in Australia for start of the season. So we'll see.

Q. Obviously you guys are sitting outside of the top 100 right now. Talking about your goals for 2026 and the Australian swing, what do you hope to get out of the swing?

ANDREA LAZARO GARCIA: Well, my first goal is just to keep myself healthy and try to play the whole year. Well, I just wanted to say I'm very excited here to be here with the Spanish team. I'm very looking forward for the matches. I think they're going to do a really good work.

For my year, I just hope to get to maybe, I don't know, as many matches as I can and play top players.

Q. Jaume and Jessica, last year Korea, what was it specifically that clicked last year that got you up the rankings? Are you confident you can go deep in the Aussie Open this year?

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: For myself, I think that I believe more in myself. I was playing, and I believe that I can won more matches against other players and top players in the world. That was of the main point for me last year.

I'm trying to just believe in me, to be healthy also, and to play these matches and to know that I can win it.

JAUME MUNAR: From my side, 2024 was a year of changes for me. 2025 was the year that I felt like I was ready to use all the change to improve my game and to step up a little bit to the best players.

This 2026 is going to be the year that I feel like I can do better during the whole season.

I don't know what really changed. Just putting a lot of work during the last 10 years. I think it's a mix of all of that. Then, of course, when you start winning matches like the ones I won last year, you feel more confident and you believe a little bit more in yourself.

Q. What is it about the United Cup which makes it great preparing for the Aussie Open?

JAUME MUNAR: First of all, team events are special always. I end my year playing Davis Cup, which was a great feeling. Feel the support of the team, feel the support of the nation, and have the opportunity to share also with the captain, I don't know, it's something special.

As I said before, playing individual, it's sometime as great feeling and sometimes not the best feeling. So kind of feel comfortable with the group is something that really helps to improve and to play your best tennis.

Q. Your Davis Cup teammate, Carlos Alcaraz. What would it take to get him to Perth and a United Cup?

JAUME MUNAR: I have no idea. This is a question for him.

I suppose that he feels that he's playing a lot, and he wants to be a little bit more at home. I don't know what to say. This is the feeling I have.

Q. What is your relationship with him like? Do you learn a lot from him? Does your game grow through your relationship with Carlos?

JAUME MUNAR: I have a very good relationship with him. Of course, I can learn a lot of things with him. We're talking about one of the best players in the world. Of course, he can do great.

But I always said that I've been learning a lot from a lot of players, even not the top, top guys. During my career I shared a lot of times with people that is not anymore here, like Ramos-Vinolas, Bautista, Carreno. I believe we have the luck in Spain that we've been producing top players all over years. We don't have to look to the very top guys, we have a lot of peoples to learn from.

Q. Do you see a time when you could maybe take over, usurp him as the No. 1 player?

JAUME MUNAR: Take over Alcaraz? No chance (smiling).

Q. What are you hoping to get out of 2026? What is it like to represent Spain here?

YVONNE CAVALLE-REIMERS: Well, it's always great to represent Spain. I think we have a really good team, like last year. I think we have a really good energy. I'm really happy to be here.

Then for next year, well, nothing change. Always is the same. Is like try to keep learning, to try to improve every day, and of course to be healthy. I think then will come the results.

Q. What are you hoping to get out of this week?

CARLOS TABERNER: Well, we start the competition tomorrow. We have tough matches against Argentina. I'm completely sure that we going to do our best, and for sure it's going to be good day for us. After that, we will start to thinking in USA. I think we have an amazing team. I am 100% confident in everyone. I wish and I hope that it's going to be good week.

INIGO CERVANTES: Yeah, same. I think we all are very confidence with each other. Yeah, let's see how is going tomorrow. What I'm sure is that everyone from the team is going to give a hundred percent. Let's go day by day and enjoy, of course.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.