Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Carlos Alcaraz
Press Conference
C. ALCARAZ/G. Dimitrov
6-1, 6-1
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.
Q. How much the conditions was tougher for him compared to yours?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I always say that I like playing with wind, with these conditions. I think I adapt really well my game to these conditions.
I think to play with such a huge wind is to believe in your physical conditions and to believe that you're going to reach every ball. That's what I thought, you know, in the match.
I think Grigor plays more aggressively with less, let's say, with less time, so I think that's why I adapt much better in these conditions in today's match.
So I feel really well the ball, as well, so I think the position in every shot was really good. And that's it. I think I miss less balls. Playing with such a huge wind, I think as less mistakes as you make is better.
Q. Do you feel more sort of unbeatable on this court and in this stadium than you do in other places? What else would compare to it?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, probably, I mean, I don't know. I don't know in which one I can compare. I don't know. Every time that I playing here in this court, I just feel great the conditions here, the court, the balls.
I think every day is a little bit of wind which I like playing with. So I think everything suits pretty well to my game, to my style.
I have time to reach the ball when I'm defending. I have time to make good positions to attack during the points.
If I have to compare this court, this stadium to the one I feel really well or the one I feel like unbeatable, I don't know, probably in Spain -- Barcelona, Madrid -- which I love playing there, as well.
But I don't know. I just love here (smiling).
Q. Carlos, you played Cerundolo once on grass.
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah.
Q. So this is obviously so different, completely different. What are your thoughts for that match?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, he's playing great. I don't know which surface is his favorite, if clay or hard court. He plays really well on both. Even grass, too.
But, I mean, that means that he's a complete player. He can play really good tennis in every surface.
He came to beat de Minaur, top-10 player, really well. I watch the match before. I will have to be really focused on my tennis, on the things that I have to do. I will try to play aggressive with passion, let's say. So it's gonna be a difficult one.
I know his style. I've practiced a lot of times with him, that match, and I watch a lot of matches from him. I will try to be really focused on that.
Q. There is a chance of you becoming World No. 1 over the next two months in Jannik Sinner's absence. Is that on your mind? Are you using that as a motivating factor to play especially well here and Miami and over the next two months?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I'm not thinking really much about recovering the No. 1 in two or three months. I mean, that could make me feel extra pressure with that.
So as I said, I'm just focused on every day and every tournament, because if I'm doing the right things, if I'm just focused on every day and the things I have to improve, the result is gonna be there and then the No. 1 is going to come after.
Just right now, I'm focused on this tournament, Indian Wells, and I want to still play good tennis. Hopefully make the final or lifting the trophy. That's my goal here.
I'm just feeling better and better, and then after here, I will think about Miami and then the tournament next. So if I'm doing, as I say, if I'm just playing better and better in every match and every tournaments, the results is gonna be good, is gonna be for my side, I guess, and then the ranking is gonna be much better.
Q. I'm just wondering if you have time to play golf here in between rounds like Rafa used to?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yes. Almost every day. As I said, I love here, because I have time to spend with my team, with my family, for myself, as well.
So I love playing golf. I think here is the paradise of golf. I try to have time to play golf and turn off my mind. That help me a lot then to play good tennis.
