BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

September 23, 2026

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

Team Spain

Press Conference

J. BOUZAS MANEIRO/S. Zhiyenbayeva

6-2, 6-2

Team Spain - 1

Team Kazakhstan - 0

THE MODERATOR: Jessica, how did you feel out there today? Give us your thoughts on the match.

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Yeah, super happy with my performance today. It wasn't easy at all. I was a little bit nervous at the beginning. You're playing for your team, for your country, so it's not easy.

I was trying to take that pressure to the positive way. Yeah, really happy to give the point to Spain.

THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions.

Q. Jessica, it looked a straightforward win by the scoreline. Did it feel straightforward out there or were you still very intense throughout the match?

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Yeah, I mean, as I said, it wasn't easy at the beginning. Yeah, she was hitting with a lot of power. I was trying to just fight every ball.

I didn't feel really well at the beginning, but I was feeling good with my serve. I was trying to take a lot of intensity from my side.

Yeah, I mean, it was good because I was with the score in the games. At the end it's never easy to close a match, to finish a match. She was hitting good points at the end.

But same thing: I was trying to focus all the match with my team, to be with them, to fight every ball. So yeah, I think that was the main point, to try to be competitive, to be positive, and to be with the team.

Q. I think you probably now have a full team of Spanish players on-site. Can you talk about the preparations for this week. Has it been difficult with some players arriving late?

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Yeah, was tough because it's different for us. Normally we come here, like, all together. In this case Kaitlin just arrived today, and Cristina arrived two days before or one day before. That's different for us.

But I think the preparation was the same. We did a good relationship with all of us, with the team. We were waiting for them. Of course, it's a good thing because they're playing really well, that's why they're coming late.

I think the preparation was similar to other weeks. I don't know for them because for the jet lag and all of that stuff.

Q. I know you're still quite early on in your BJK Cup career. Can you tell us what makes these weeks special for you?

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Yeah, for me it's super special because we have a lot of good relationship in the team, we have good communication. From my side I have everything with my team, all that I need in every moment. They understand me, so that's the good thing. They have a lot of empathy for us. So yeah, I think that's the good thing.

It's a funny week also because we're trying to enjoy the week, not just to play here. We have the pressure and it's tough competition because you are playing for a country, but we are trying to take the positive thing about it. I think that's the good thing.

We are, like, most of the year alone, so it's really nice to be with the team and playing for our country.

Q. When did you know you were going to be the first to play? When did the coach decide to do that? Would that be a little bit of pressure to be the first? Compared to your play back to the tournaments in the past, how do you feel about this game? Do you feel like you're doing better, getting better through the BJK compared to the game you played in the past during this season?

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Sorry, you said when I know?

Q. Yes.

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Yeah, I knew it, like, some days ago. I know my captain has a lot of confidence in all the players in the team. But yeah, she let me know it as soon as she can.

For me, I mean, it's a privilege to play for Spain, the confidence that she has on me. I was trying to give the point to Spain, to give the point to the team, trying to do the best because they put that confidence on me.

Q. Compared to the game you played in the past this year, during other tournaments, how do you feel compared to this game? Do you feel you play better in this game?

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Yeah, it's a different competition, so you have a lot of support in the crowd. You have all the team supporting you. It's different than another weeks.

For me, I think it's extra motivation because I have all the team with me, not just my coach or the rest of my team. Also I know the support from Spain. All my friends, my family are watching me. I think that gives me more, like, power to do it well and to try to give the best for the team, for my friends, for my family, and for myself.

Q. So far have you visited anywhere besides just staying in the stadium? Did you try any new foods or drinks?

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Not yet. But maybe tomorrow, maybe we have some time to go out. I will do it because tomorrow it's my birthday, so maybe something different from here, something typical from here. I will try it (smiling).

Q. Happy birthday.

JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO: Thank you.