BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

September 23, 2026

Sonja Zhiyenbayeva

Team Kazakhstan

Press Conference

J. BOUZAS MANEIRO/S. Zhiyenbayeva

6-2, 6-2

Team Spain - 1

Team Kazakhstan - 0

THE MODERATOR: Sonja, if we could have your thoughts on the match.

SONJA ZHIYENBAYEVA: For me it was a very short match, unfortunately. I wish I could have done better. Yeah, I hope the girls do well.

THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions.

Q. Can you just explain what representing Kazakhstan means for you, even in defeat? What is the feeling that you're getting from the team, from the supporters and everything?

SONJA ZHIYENBAYEVA: I feel a lot of support coming from the team, coming from the fans. Especially playing for my mother country makes me very proud.

Of course, my loss is the loss of a country, so I'm sad about it. I feel a lot of support from Kazakhstan.

Q. Looking ahead to the rest of the tie, are you confident that your team can get the comeback on, get Kazakhstan back into this tie?

SONJA ZHIYENBAYEVA: I'm really confident in our second singles, and especially our doubles. I feel like we have a really good doubles team.

Of course, Yulia loves playing long matches, so we'll see how this one goes. Yeah, I hope we can turn it around.

Q. Kazakhstan is still very much in this competition. Can you tell us what has been the main thing you learned from this week? What has been the best part of your experience?

SONJA ZHIYENBAYEVA: I feel like enjoying the moment is super important. I hope I can do that more in the future, especially coming for the next years whenever I represent Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean King Cup.

Q. Quick question about your trip to China so far. After the game, if you guys get a couple hours off, where would you usually go? What are some of the things you would do besides just stay here in the stadium?

SONJA ZHIYENBAYEVA: You mean in Shenzhen?

Q. Yeah.

SONJA ZHIYENBAYEVA: I think we'll go shopping. I do that quite a lot when I'm in China. We'll try to do that. Maybe do some sightseeing if there's anything around.