MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 3, 2021

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/A. Mannarino

6-4, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you describe the feeling what it was like to be playing in your country's largest tennis stadium for the first time, to achieve a victory in front of fans.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, for me is amazing, no? To play in front of a crowd, especially to play here in Spain. For me, well, I came here to this tournament since I was young. I always wish to play here in Madrid.

Yeah, really special to play here in front of all the crowd, yeah. Really happy.

Q. In the next round you're playing Rafa Nadal. Many players have their own opinions about what makes his game so special. As someone who has watched so many times, what are the key areas you think make his game so brilliant?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: As you said, I watch Rafa Nadal a lot. Yeah, I always wish to play against Rafa, learn from him. I don't know how to describe this feeling now. Is a dream come true. As you said, I know a little his game. Yeah, I will try to play my best and let's see what happen.

Q. I believe Jannik Sinner was watching your match today. He's a fairly young player. Have you made a lot of friends on tour? Do you feel supported by your peers?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I have friends here in the tour. Well, I would say that my best friend in tour is Pablo Carreno. I always try to say hello to everyone, yeah, to be friendly with all the players.

But, yeah, I think I have a lot of friends here in the tour with short career in the tour.

Q. I remember I saw you playing in Florence two years ago when you came with Juan Carlos Ferrero. Musetti won that tournament. What do you think about Sinner and Musetti? Two different kinds of players. Do you think you look more to the game of one of them or the other one? What would you like to pick from the game of Sinner and from the game of Musetti if possible?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, these two players are really, really good tennis player. I know really well Lorenzo Musetti. I watch a lot from Sinner.

I can't say that I keep some things about these players. I can say that these two players are really, really well. I hope to grow up in the ranking, the two of them. Well, wish them all the best.

Q. Tournament by tournament you keep showing great improvement. Have you set any goals between now and the end of the season?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I try to improve in each tournament. Every match help me to grow up as a player. I try to keep the best of each match and try to improve the bad things I did in every match.

I feel that I'm growing up in every tournament. I hope to end the season in the best 50.