DAVIS CUP FINALS

September 18, 2022

Carlos Alcaraz

Team Spain

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/S. Kwon

6-4, 7-6

Spain - 2

Republic of Korea - 0

THE MODERATOR: We will first do questions in English.

Q. Congratulations. How did it feel to make the winning point to put Spain in the final eight in Malaga?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I'm really happy to get the decisive point to get into Malaga, to the Finals in the Davis Cup. It's an honor to represent my country.

Yeah, I'm really, really happy for it.

Q. Can you tell me, does it feel different, the pressure playing for Spain as No. 1 compared to, say, winning a Grand Slam like last week?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah. I mean, this tournament, Davis Cup is different. You are playing with your team, represent your country. You don't play just for yourself. You're playing for everyone in Spain, you know.

Yeah, is different atmosphere, different air you breathe, totally different from the other tournaments. You have to play the same, you know, but, yeah, it's different (smiling).

Q. Another win. Also, you had experience that you played with Kwon Soonwoo would in Barcelona Open last April. How do you see the difference between that time and today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I would say he's a better player on hard court, even more on indoor court. I know that he's really tough player, really, really good tennis player. Yeah, he had to be really focused on every shot. He's a player who hit the ball really hard and dominate almost all the match, you know.

He's a very, very good player.

Q. You played the first match. It was tough for you. How much better did it make the situation for you that Roberto won the first match today? How much more relaxed did you feel going in for the second match today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I had a couple of days more to adapt myself on the court. Everything here in Valencia, you know, in the first match just I had just one day to train, to get used to these conditions. Now in this match I had a couple of days more.

I would say I played really well today, but I played really well the first day as well. I'm really happy with the performance on the first day than on today. Just I needed a couple of days to get used to these conditions.

Q. Does it feel a little bit like almost you are playing in your home city? Because Juan Carlos' academy is not far away. Does it make it feel even more comfortable in Valencia?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Probably (smiling). In every part of Spain I good feel comfortable. I love playing in Spain in front of all my people.

Yeah, I just feel comfortable in every part of Spain, not just in Valencia.