Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/C. Ruud

6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: How pleased with your performance today? Give us your thoughts, looking ahead to the next match against Cam.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, first of all, just really pleased about how I played today. I think I was at a really high level of tennis for me in both sets.

Just happy with, you know, really happy to know that I just did the goals that I set on myself at the beginning of the match. So hopefully playing this kind of level or the same level in the next round.

Really difficult one against Cam, great battles I have against him. The last one I just lost against him, so I just really wanted to take the revenge.

Let's see how it's gonna be. Really looking forward to playing tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I wondered what you think that Cam does that sometimes makes you uncomfortable, makes your life difficult?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I would love to answer that question, to be honest (smiling), but probably Cam is going to watch this.

But, you know, I would say lefties always tricky to play against, I would say. Just the way he can change the, you know, I'm gonna say the height of the ball. He has a really flat backhand and really topspin forehand. So you can be a little bit confused sometimes with how it's gonna come, the ball, to you.

He's a gladiator. You know, he's a real fighter, fighting every ball, every game, every set. So it's really difficult to, you know, when you're facing someone like never give up any point or any ball.

Q. Yesterday Jannik played a very tough match against Joao. He said it would be harder and harder for him if he keeps coming like that. He said it's good for the sport, I'm happy with this. Do you agree with him, or maybe do you feel a little bit worried of these really, really good new players coming up?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, no. Why would I be worried about? No, no, no, I know it (smiling). But I think...

Q. Did you see the match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I saw a little bit. I couldn't see the full match, but I saw that Joao is playing great tennis. Obviously when someone is going toe to toe with Jannik 7-6, 7-6, that means he had to play great tennis and perform really, really well.

So really happy to see Joao, you know, growing up and see him, you know, playing these kind of matches, this kind of level.

I'm, you know, a player and a person who loves seeing the player growing. As a person, as a player, he's really young, and for sure he's gonna learn from this experience.

But, yeah, just really happy to see where Joao is right now, and for sure, we're gonna see more of Joao in the future.

Q. Is it true that you drink an espresso before every match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, no. I used to, I used to drink coffee before every match, but not anymore. I would say I just do other stuff (smiling).

Q. Why did you change?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I think people change (smiling).

Q. At one point in the match, you hit a shot that I have never seen, like, swing-volley-backhand, from-the-baseline lob. So can you tell me what the hell do you do? (Laughter.)

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I don't know, because it's something that I don't practice. I feel I can do it. So I just, yeah, when it comes, I just feel like, or I can do it.

So for me, it wasn't really difficult to do it, and at the same time, it was, for me, the easiest shot in that ball. It was, like, why not doing that if, for me, I just feeling like I can do it real easily. So it's just natural.