Thursday, March 13, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/F. Cerundolo

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: First of all, congrats, Carlitos. Not an easy match tonight, but managed to win it in straight sets. How did you overcome all of the challenges out there?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think today was a little bit tougher than yesterday. I think it was more wind, colder. So the conditions was really tough.

But, you know, I think I didn't play as good as yesterday, but I think, I mean, tennis is about not having a great day every day. So you have to play with your best that day.

I think today I just survived. I just save, you know, a lot of breakpoints, a lot of chances to his favor. Just really happy about it.

Yeah, I think I just played decent match or a good match with that conditions.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You came to the net a lot today and you had some success. Was there a particular reason for that?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I didn't feel as good as other days from the baseline, so I had to find another way.

As I said, when you're not feeling your best day, you have to find, you know, other solutions, other things to make that match to the opponent.

So I think today I just found, you know, the net good things to do with the wind today, with the conditions, and that's why I went a lot to the net, because I just felt much better in the net than from the baseline.

Q. You're playing Jack tomorrow. He beat you at Queen's last year. What was it that made him tough then and what makes him a potentially tough opponent here?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think he has a lot of rhythm, a lot of pace, great shots. I think his style of play suits pretty well to these conditions well. I think his forehand with topspin bounce a lot, and big serve.

I mean, the times that I have played against him, I think two of them he got injured, and the last one recently in Australia. So I'm just excited about playing him again.

It seems he's in really good shape right now. I think he's ambitious, and he always go for it. So that's makes him a really tough opponent. I'm pretty sure he's gonna be one of the toughest on the tour in the future or in the next year.

Just really happy to share these kind of moments with him. I also think it's going to be a really good match to watch and to play.

Q. You were going to practice with Jack, weren't you, in December? You invited him to Spain to practice, but he couldn't make it because of injury. Why did you select him? How do you choose a player over the winter? Is it because of the quality their game? Is it because you like them as a person?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, honestly, few players had talked to Juan Carlos in the preseason just to go to the academy or the place where we were practicing, and Jack was one of them. I just really happy that a lot of players, you know, talk to Juan Carlos to be able to go to Spain to practice with me.

I think it's a good way to have a good preseason to get ready for the season. Yeah, it was the same, but Jack couldn't make it at the end because of the injury. I was looking forward to practice with him for a week, week and a half.

But yeah, I mean, he's a really nice guy off the court, as well, which makes it even easier to share good moments or to share a week of practicing, because the level he has, he's a really professional player. You know, off the court he always do the right things, so I think he is one of those players who is lovely to practice with.

Q. You wrote, "Should I buy a house here?" You were just being playful, but really, what is it about this place that makes you feel so at home?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think tennis -- I have talked like this with a lot of players. I mean, we have a team. I mean, talking about myself, I have a big team. I'm lucky enough to bring family with me to tournaments, but I think tennis is a lonely sport. So sometimes when you have or you feel peaceful in the place you're going, you feel great.

So that's this case here. I feel peace. Here is peaceful. So I just feel great that way with the people that I have around.

So that's why it makes this place really beautiful to me, and I think that's why I show my best tennis here.