BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

September 24, 2026

Greet Minnen

Team Belgium

Press Conference

G. MINNEN/E. Svitolina

6-7, 6-4, 6-4

Team Ukraine - 1

Team Belgium - 1

THE MODERATOR: Greet, congratulations. Is it fair to say that this competition, Billie Jean King Cup, brings an extra motivation when you step out on the court?

GREET MINNEN: Yeah, looks like it. I don't know what I can say. It's just something different, this competition. Yeah, it brings out the best in me. I play at a very high level every time I'm on court for my country.

Yeah, it's hard to explain the words. Yeah, once I wear the red jersey, yeah, it just gives me an extra motivation, an extra kick.

I'm super proud of myself, the way I played today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You were sort of leading at times in the first set, but lost that one. How did you pick yourself up? Did you think your chance had gone when you lost in the tiebreak?

GREET MINNEN: I mean, yeah, it was unfortunate to lose that set. But I think overall it was really close. Even when I was leading, I was really fighting hard for my service games. She was really pushing me until the end of the first set, yeah, to really go for it, to play super aggressive.

Yeah, she's a great fighter. She doesn't miss a lot. You really have to go for your shots.

After the first set I just tried doing the same thing because it was super close and I felt I was playing great, the level was pretty high. I just tried to do exactly the same thing.

I think my service was working better in the second and third set. I think that helped me a lot to get the win.

Q. You've alluded to it already, but how does the motivation work differently for a Billie Jean King Cup tie compared to on the tour?

GREET MINNEN: Yeah, you have the whole team behind you cheering you on. Even when there were not Belgian fans in the crowd, I knew a lot of people were watching at home. I was really trying to make them proud, to really go for it, to just leave it all out there. Yeah, I'm super happy to get the win.

It just works very different with the team behind you. Yeah, I'm a big team player, so I just like it (smiling).

Q. After all the challenges that Belgium has had this week with injuries, players arriving late, how satisfying is that for you to have won this match and given your team a chance to make the semifinals?

GREET MINNEN: Yeah, I mean, I don't think anyone expected that we would be at 1-All. We had a lot of bad luck this week. Hanne being ill. My back still not hundred percent. So yeah, I wasn't even sure to play today. Yeah, the medical team did everything they could to fix me up as good as possible, to help me, give me some painkillers when I needed it.

So yeah, unbelievable that we're even in the spot to make it to the semifinals.

Q. You're challenging a top-10 player. How did you prepare for this matchup? Were you a little bit afraid of the fight? Even though you lost the first set, you managed to play very well. How did you manage to keep yourself calm?

GREET MINNEN: Yeah, I think we prepared. Obviously we knew Svitolina very well. She's been around for a long time. She's a very experienced top-10 player. I knew I really had to up my level, to really go for it today.

Yeah, like I said, honestly we didn't have a lot of tactics going into the match 'cause I wasn't feeling hundred percent. I was a little bit injured. Still am. I don't know how I pulled the match through. I think the adrenaline helped me a lot today.

Yeah, just even after losing the first set, I just tried to stay very calm, to keep doing the things that were working for me, and to just keep fighting until the very end.

Yeah, I've had some experience the last few years for playing for my country, so I think that helped me a lot to stay calm in those moments.

Q. Your win has brought the competition to the doubles, which is deciding for the whole tie. What do you think about the value of your win?

GREET MINNEN: Yeah, I mean, I think it was super important, otherwise we would have been on the plane already going home. So now we have a chance.

Yeah, in the doubles anything can happen. I think we have two doubles specialists who are playing well. Especially Magali, who had some great results this year. I think they really have a good shot to win.

I really will try to, yeah, cheer them on as best as I can. Hopefully we can play again next semifinal.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.