MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

April 3, 2022

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/C. Ruud

7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Carlos. How does it feel to be a Masters 1000 champion?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: It feels amazing. I mean, I'm so happy to get the title here in Miami with everyone who was supporting me. I mean, the hard work paid off, you know, and yeah, it's amazing to get my first Masters 1000.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. When you collapsed on the court, what was that feeling like? I think you also said that you were lost for words. Have you got the words now?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think, yeah, when I win the last point, I mean, all the time that I dream of is came to my mind. You know, when I was younger, I dreamed to get Masters 1000. Yeah, when I fall onto the floor, I remembered that.

I mean, all the dreams, all the hard work, all the training, all the troubles, everything came to my mind in that moment.

Q. Obviously as a Spanish player you look up to someone like Rafa Nadal. I know he's been important to you. How important was it as a young player to watch someone like that and emulate him, to be as close to him as you can be?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, it's good to look up to someone. I mean, I look up to Rafa and learn from him. He was amazing.

I remember watch his matches, his big matches in big moments. I learned a lot from that, and now be able to play with him, share the court with him, is pretty amazing.

And of course I mean, I'm trying to do my best on court and off the court. The children or the young players look up to me or trying to do that, yeah, it's amazing.

Q. I heard that you got a call from the King of Spain. What is that like for an 18-year-old to receive? What kind of phone call was that like for you? What did you talk about? What did he say?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: (Speaking Spanish.) (Laughter.)

Sorry. No, no, no, sorry. So it's pretty amazing to get the call from the Spanish king. I was more nervous to that call than the match (smiling).

But, yeah, it's pretty amazing that the Spanish king congratulate you on the hard work that you put every day and your win. Yeah, it's something that you never thought you were gonna receive a Spanish king call. It's amazing.

Q. How did it happen? He just called your cellphone? What happened there? How did that happen?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, he called Albert Molina. Yeah, it was answer call.

Q. (Off mic.)

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, something like that. Yeah, but hope to meet him in Spain.

Q. Congratulations, Carlos. Juan Carlos said that the most important thing he did was he was able to tell you what to expect in a final like today. What were some of the things he told you to expect about what you would feel? How did that help you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Before the match?

Q. Yes.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, he told me that everybody knows it's going to be my first final, but trying to think that this is the first match of the tournament, trying to manage the nerves like I did in the semifinal, which it was my second one. I mean, trying to put my game, trying to don't think about the final. Just keep going, keep strong mentally like I did in every match in this tournament.

Yes, just enjoy the moment, enjoy the match, enjoy my first Masters 1000 final and go for it. Well, he told me that before the match.

Q. We asked Juan Carlos if he still thinks that clay is your best surface. What do you think?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Sorry? Say again?

Q. We asked Juan Carlos if he still thinks clay is your best surface. What do you think?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I don't know. All I can say is I got two titles on clay and one on hard court. Yeah, I feel very comfortable in both surface, so I don't mind playing on clay or on hard court. But I feel comfortable on both.

Q. I asked Juan also just conversations he's had with you since coaching up to this point. What do you feel in terms of your thoughts and the way the conversations he's had with you about play, about balancing your life off the court? What have they been like for you with him when you talk to him?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: In life or before the match, or what do you mean?

Q. In life, before the match, tennis, period.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: With Juan Carlos?

Q. Yeah.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, Juan Carlos very important person for me. In professional side, on the personal side, you know, he help me a lot in both sides.

I mean, when we are together, we will talk about everything in life, everything in our sport, about football, as well. I mean, yeah, Juan Carlos, I consider him a coach and a friend as well. So I can talk to him about everything, I mean, in personal life, so he help me a lot in everything.

Q. Congratulations. So the match point, when and how did you decide that you are going to serve and volley?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, serve and volley was a key for me in this match. I did a lot, and I think that I won almost 100% of that points when I did serve and volley.

I saw Casper returning at the back of the court, and yeah, I decide to serve to his backhand and go to the net. I mean, that Juan Carlos told me, You have to go for it in every moment.