US OPEN

September 8, 2022

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/J. Sinner

6-3, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Physically you were pretty incredible all the way through. How were you feeling as the match wore on for five hours?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I felt great. Probably at the end of the match I was in my end, let's say. It was really, really tough for me. During the whole match, five hours, 15 minutes of match, I feel great physically.

Of course, the level of tennis that we have played, it was really, really high. But I felt great.

Q. You have to think about it all over again for playing Frances next round. Played him once before. Situation is different. What are your thoughts going in to playing Tiafoe?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: It's going to be really, really tough. Frances, everybody know the level of Frances. He has beaten Rafa Nadal, Rublev in three sets. He's playing unbelievable right now. High confidence.

He loves the crowd. He loves this court. I'm going to have to put my best. But right now I'm thinking about this match. I'm enjoying this moment. I have a day of rest to think about the semifinal.

But right now I'm going to enjoy with my team, my family, and that's all.

Q. Into your first Grand Slam semifinal. You qualified for the ATP Finals now. How does it feel to keep achieving all these things?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Pretty great. I mean, I feel great to be in my first semifinal in a Grand Slam. I feel better reaching semifinal here in US Open. This tournament is amazing. The crowd is amazing, I would say the best in the world.

I mean, the energy I receive in this court at 3 a.m., it was unbelievable. I mean, probably in other tournaments, other place, everybody went to their house to rest. But they keep in the court, supporting me. It was unbelievable.

I feel great to have, well, play a semifinal here in US Open.

Q. During that match, when Jannik was serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set, what were your thoughts at that stage? Did also the No. 1 ranking come into your mind at all during this match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No in this match. I mean, I just was thinking about the match, not the ranking or results or stuff. I just try to be focus, try to put my best in every shot, in every game.

I just believe in myself in that game. I was returning pretty well. I had a lot of chances returning 40-All, 30-All a lot of times. I just believe in myself that I could break in this moment.

Obviously I think I played really well tennis in that game. Yeah, I would say the things came in my favor.