INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 12, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to Rome. I believe you just spent your first 24 hours in the Italian capital. What is your impression?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, it's my first time here in Rome. My first 24 hours here. I practiced twice. Enjoying my time here in Rome. I couldn't go to the center, I couldn't visit anything yet. I would like to do that. Right now I enjoying the club and the fans.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. But play Albert Ramos first. He was the first player you ever played in an ATP tournament. What do you remember about that match? It was in Rio, I think. What was the experience of being at a tournament for the first time?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, it was a really good match for me, my first ATP win against him. But, yeah, that was a long time ago. I think it was a long time ago.

But, yeah, after that I played I think a few times more. It was really tough. Yeah, I would say it's a good first round for me. I have to play well to get through.

Let's see. I'm going to enjoy my first match here. Obviously here it's such a nice play to be, to play, to enjoy Italian fans. It's always great to play in front.

Yeah, I'm going to enjoy that moment.

Q. You've been already No. 1 in the world. Now you're going to be again No. 1 in the world, just the fact that you play. Does it make a difference? Is it important for you once you have already experienced to be No. 1 to be No. 1 next Monday after Rome, or it doesn't really change so much, not so excited as you were before?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, no, no, it doesn't change anything for me. To be No. 1 again, obviously it's great to be No. 1, of course, to recover it in this tournament.

Yeah, after that nothing change at all for me. I'm going to play here same as I come playing. Of course, it's great, but it's not going to change anything.

Q. I don't ask you to be arrogant, but I understand you have a lot of rivals, very strong.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: You said?

Q. Rivals.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Rivals.

Q. We can say maybe the biggest rival is inside yourself because you have to choose the right tactics and shots every time. You have a lot of possibilities, no? It is very difficult for you every time to find out the right situation, when you can attack, you can stay there, do a lot of things?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Sometimes. I said before that your biggest rival is yourself. It's not only for me, it's for everyone. You have to control yourself, your emotions first, then playing against the opponent.

As you said, you have to choose the correct things in every moment. That is really tough 'cause we have just seconds before hitting the ball. It's tough.

Yeah, it's not just for me, it's for everyone.

Q. It's the first time this season you play the same tournament as Novak Djokovic. Is there something special maybe with you? Pressure? Big excitement?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, of course, being in the same tournament that Novak is great, having him here and learning from him. It's always good having the best tennis players in the world in the tournament, it's great. I hope to meet him in the final.

Yeah, I always say that as a tennis fan I always want to see the best players in the world, to watch them, learn from them, 'cause you have to learn from everyone.

Yeah, it's great to share the tournament.

Q. You haven't played here in Rome. You haven't played last year in Turin. You have played many times in your career though in Italy. Next Gen finals in Milan. Do you have any particular memories? You played against Bonfiglio. I don't know if you remember that or any other match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I remember. I remember it. Yeah, I have a lot of great memories here in Italy. I won my first challenger title here. Making my second final here in Italia, as well. Of course, I grew up a lot playing here in Italy, juniors, challenger. I don't remember if I played some ITF as well here.

So, yeah, I grew up as a player a lot in these tournaments, and of course I have great memories. I played great matches here in Italy.

Q. You talk a lot about wanting to smile on the court, be positive on the court. I'm curious, what was your attitude like when you were younger, when you may have been less mature? Also curious about the impact of Kiko Navarro on your career?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I mean, when I was younger, I was totally different person. Probably I didn't enjoy as I'm enjoying right now. I always mad, throwing the racquet, complaining a lot. It was different (smiling). I started to calm myself, control my emotions. I started to enjoy playing tennis, enjoy a lot on court.

Of course, Kiko is someone that help me a lot when I was young. I pass with him a lot of memories. I travel outside Spain for my first time with him.

Obviously I had one coach, as well, when I started playing tennis, Carlos as well. He help me a lot when I was younger.