MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 4, 2022

Carlos Alcaraz

Flash Interview

C. ALCARAZ/N. Basilashvili

6-3, 7-5

(Translated from Spanish.)

Q. Congrats on the victory. How do you feel this first day playing here in Madrid?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I'm very, very happy about it. Very happy with the outcome, being able to win the match. He was a really complicated player to play against, very few rallies, not a lot of rhythm.

I had to try to keep the rhythm from the beginning till the end and try to stop him from dominating. At the beginning of each set, it was quite difficult, but in the end I managed to pull it out.

Q. How would you define that moment at the end of the first set when you managed to close it?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, at the end I think that I'm a player that fights till the last ball, till the other player just misses it or there is a ball that he cannot be able to return. I tried just not to give any ball for granted and tried to fight every single shot.

I would describe it as incredible. It was amazing that all the people were cheering me up with the points and it was just spectacular.

Q. Talking about how many people were out there, it seems that here in Madrid everyone supports you, right? It's spectacular?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I have felt very supported by all the people. I felt all their love here in Madrid, of La Caja Magica. I feel very fortunate to be able to live these kind of moments and that people love me so much.

Q. Carlos, it's 12:00 at night, 10,000 people out here. What do you think about that?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, no words to describe it. After so many hours at this tournament, of the night that people are here watching my match to support me till the very end, I'm really grateful.

Q. If, a few weeks ago, I would have told you you had 10,000 people cheering you up in Madrid, were you expecting this?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Sincerely, no. No, I wouldn't be believing what we are living or see so many people at this time of the day, Tuesday, here watching a match, supporting me. Well, sincerely I would say that you're crazy.

Q. Would you prefer to play in the afternoon rather than at night?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, well, yeah, I would prefer to play at the afternoon, yes. I will end up going to bed really, really late. I would rather play earlier, yes.

Q. It's been a very long day. You are playing very late. Can you talk us through a little bit of your day, how has it been?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it's been in the morning I was very quiet, very calm. What is difficult is to be all day at the club waiting to play or not.

I knew I was going to play late, so until last time in the afternoon I didn't come here, so, you know, it's been a quiet, calm day with the team.

Q. This is the first step. Do you know that in the quarterfinals you can potentially play against Rafa Nadal in the quarterfinals? Many people in Madrid are expecting that.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, it would be great. It would be beautiful. But at the end of the day it is a Masters 1000. We have the most important players here, and we have to demonstrate a really good level, both Rafa and myself.