BNP PARIBAS OPEN

March 18, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/J. Sinner

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Carlos. Your first final in Indian Wells. After last year's great performance into semifinals, made another breakthrough this year. How do you feel now?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I feel great. This is a tournament that I love playing. I have great memories, my first semifinal for a Masters 1000 here against Rafa. It was really special for me. Coming back this year and making final is really special moment for me.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Can you talk about sort of playing when everybody expects you to win now. When you were starting your career people didn't really expect you to, you were new, but now you're established. How different is that psychologically for you, that challenge now?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it doesn't change too much for me. I don't think about that I'm the favorite in every match. I don't think about that I have to win every match.

I just have my goals in my mind, you know. I have the things that I have to do in my mind, and that's all I think about in the match.

You know, I try to enjoy every match. I try to do the things that I have to do. That's everything, you know. I'm not thinking about anything, anything else (smiling).

Q. Could you talk a little bit about the last half of the first set? You were ahead 4-2, and then he kind of caught fire.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, but it was tough. It was a tough moment for me. I didn't make the right things. I'd say it was everything too fast and, yeah, in that moment you have to be slow, think well, and it wasn't my case.

Yeah, I think at that point the match, it was close. You know, I think he started to play better. I was fighting against myself. It was a tough moment for me, yeah.

Q. I'm sure you know what could happen with the rankings, depending on how you play. Does that come into your mind at all? If it doesn't, is it easy to put it to one side?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: About the rankings, the defending points or...

Q. No, the No. 1.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Ah. Well, I know if I win tomorrow I'm gonna become the No. 1. Well, I will try not to think about that, just to, as I said, just to think about the things that I have to do, you know.

Tomorrow I would say gonna be a really tactic match against Daniil. Is gonna be really tough. I have to make, let's say, everything perfect. That's all I'm gonna think tomorrow.

But, you know, it could be great to win tomorrow, of course (smiling).

Q. Following that, if you become the No. 1 in the world again, of all the things you do well, what aspect of your game, what part of your game do you think you do better than everyone in the world?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, this tough question. There are a lot of players and, yeah, every player has his, you know, his thoughts, his best things. It's tough to say one thing that I'm better on every player.

Let's say I'm good in every aspect of the game, I move well, I hit great shots that probably some players have great shots but not great movement, you know. I don't know how to explain that very well. But I'd say I'm not really well in one aspect or I'm better than some players in one aspect. I can't say that.

Q. It's your overall game?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Probably, yeah.

Q. Two things: When did you realize that you really could be a great professional player? My second question is very similar to the previous question: What gives you the most satisfaction within you? What do you enjoy the most, gives you the most satisfaction about tennis?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, first question, I would say when I got my first ATP point. Yeah, probably that moment I started to realize that I now be in the ATP very soon, but at that point, yeah, I knew that I have to work hard, you know, to stay there. But yeah, when I got my first ATP point, I realize that I be or I could be, you know, in the professional tour, you'd say at that point.

And the second question, I would say when I, you know, hit impossible shots, when I go to the net, you know, I make big shots. When I do that on court, I enjoy a lot. Yeah, I make a smile on my face, I'd say that.

Q. What do you find most impressive about Daniil Medvedev's game?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: He's a wall. He return every ball, impossible shots. I talk with my team that the returns are almost, you know, in the corner of the court and still winning the points.

He's an amazing runner, he's an amazing player. I probably hit my best shots to, you know, hit winners against him.

Q. What are your memories of your match with him at Wimbledon? Do you feel like now, a couple years later, you'll be able to bring a whole new level of play to him? Do you think your net play and your ability to use all those different skills will make a difference against a guy who is a wall?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, if I'm not wrong, when I played against him he was No. 2 in the world. Yeah, I just started to play on the tour, so I was not experienced player. For me, was a strange match.

Right now is totally different. I'm experienced guy. Well, or at least I'm more experienced that match. I know how to play against him. You know, I practice with him a few times, as well, so is not new thing for me right now. So it's gonna be, I think, a totally different match.

Q. Daniil referenced back to that Wimbledon match in 2021, but he said so much has changed for both of you since then that he feels this is like the first match that you all are playing. Would you feel similar, that this is like the first time that you are playing?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I feel similar than him. I feel that it's gonna be really different match. And of course is on hard court. So on grass is totally different, as well.

Yeah, I feel same. I feel it's gonna be like the first match between us.