BJK CUP 2026_TEAM TALK UKRAINE
-
Video Transcript
Hi, I'm Alina.
Hello, I'm Alexandra, and this is our team talk.
The pressure is massive, but the pressure is a privilege.
My first match was against Serena Williams in Kharkiv.
I feel lots of people are watching, lots of people are supporting us, so it's something that is our mission, I feel like to bring the good news to the Ukrainian people.
What was it like the first time you played for Ukraine?
I was very, I was very nervous.
My first match was against Serena Williams in Kharkiv.
It was Didn't go our way, but for me it was something, something special, and I was very little.
I think I was 16 or 17 at the time, the one to remember for sure, especially now when we cannot play at home, to play in Kharkiv, it was, it was something unbelievable.
Yeah, that's actually the question that I wanted to ask how it was playing in our country with the home crowd, because for me it's.
It's a dream, but you know now it's unfortunately impossible because of war.
So how was it feeling to play with so many Ukrainians around?
It was very special to me.
I was lucky enough to not play once, but I also played a couple of times in Kharkiv, played in Kiev, and played in Odessa in my hometown where I was born.
It was always my dream, as it is for you as well.
It's something really special that you cannot feel for any other country where you play.
When you play in Ukraine, it's something like a dream, and of course a little bit of nerves, but something that I wish that you can experience in your life and hopefully after Ukraine Ukraine wins the war, we can we can experience it together.
How this week feels different to the tour?
Very different.
I feel like with the full schedule that we have now of tournaments, we come together as a team, and the team spirit that we have and the fighting spirit that every single player has in our team, it makes it more special, especially when you unite together with the fans, with Ukrainian fans, loud fans.
It's a very A feeling that you, you just have, you don't really explain it.
You just feel it with your body.
You feel all the nerves.
You feel the bouquet of different emotions, but the good ones, and I think this gives you the motivation, gives you the will and the power to win the matches.
Does the pressure change compared to playing for the team when you play for yourself?
Yeah, the pressure is massive, but as Billie Jean King said, the pressure is a privilege.
I feel when you go to play for your country.
Of course you feel the weight, but sometimes you have to put this rucksack on the side and just go for it.
Just focus on what you have to do.
Your main goal is to win.
Your main goal is to leave everything there on the court for the win.
What you can do is fight, and that's the best, that's the best quality that you can bring to the court.
I can't wait.
This pressure of match because now I'm just happy.
You will feel it it's something that's difficult to describe.
It's only about feelings.
It's all about fighting spirit.
You are a big fighter on the court, so you will feel it at the full, the full power.
What advice would you give to your younger self when they first called up?
Um, when I first played, I think I was very nervous, um, at that time, you know, I was, uh, coming up player, I would say just enjoy.
And try to go for it more.
I think I was a bit more stressed within myself.
I think that's why you have a team with who you can talk.
You have coaches, you have, you know, the team that can help you.
Try to enjoy this nervous moment.
As much as you can, of course.
What makes a good team member?
Everybody is different.
Everybody copes with nerves differently.
I think the team spirit is something that is the core of the team.
It's important to benefit the team with this.
The only thing you can do is be helpful to your teammates, be supportive.
I think this is.
Very important.
We, for example, we experienced a very heartbreaking loss in the finals in China against Italy, and I think it was important for us to unite together in that moment in the tough moment where we were really close and just support each other.
I think this is the core of the team.
Actually, now in the team playing first time, what I feel that what I feel that everybody is very helpful to each other.
It feels very nice.
I think, I think it's important, important to To share the moments together, you know, the good ones and the bad ones, because of course as a team you lose together, you win together.
So as a team it's important to try to, of course you think a lot about yourself because you play most of the year by yourself, for yourself.
Here you play more for your country, for your team.
So that's why I think it's important to share these moments when you can with your teammates.
What has been your favorite moment representing Ukraine so far?
I think my favorite personal, personal, and for my country, it was to bring the bronze medal from the Olympics.
It was really special for me.
It was something crazy and out of even of my dreams.
Also, playing each time for the team.
Coming together as a team and having this goal and opportunity to play in the finals of the World Cup and to try to bring this win to the Ukrainian people because we feel the love that they give us during this.
This time it is also a very honorable moment that we have.
I feel lots of people are watching.
Lots of people are supporting us , so it's something that is our mission, I feel like to bring the good news to the Ukrainian people.
