INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 15, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

F. MAROZSAN/C. Alcaraz

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Bad luck, Carlitos. How much did you know about Fabian before the match and how much did he impress you out there today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I didn't watch too much about him before the match. I just follow a lot of results about him in the challengers and stuff. He did well. He was doing well before here.

Of course, he surprise me a lot. I mean, his level was really, really high. Yeah, I'm sure he's going to break the top 100 very, very soon.

It was surprising for me.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Curious how you felt about your performance. In the second set when it became close, why you feel you weren't able to force a third set?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Sorry?

Q. Why you felt you weren't able to force a third set in the second set when it was close?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, I didn't play really, really well obviously. But, of course, he plays his match, he plays at a really high level. I couldn't follow his level. I mean, he was at the same level the whole match. That is very, very difficult.

Yeah, I try to fight until the last ball, but it wasn't enough. Of course, in the second set, it was close. I had my chances at 6-5, 15-30. I would say I could win that set, except little things happen.

Of course, he deserves the win. If he plays at that level, he's going to surprise more than one.

Q. What's the plan now? Go home for a break? When do you shift the focus to Paris? Are you excited about being the No. 1 seed at Roland Garros?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I'm going to rest little bit, some days off for me. I really need some days to reset my mind a little bit, to being fresh for Roland Garros.

Of course, to practice the that's not secret. You have to practice. If you want to do a good result in Paris, if I want to go to Paris in a good shape, I have to practice, to be better. I couldn't practice more than three, four days in a row. I've been playing so much.

It's going to be really helpful for me to have days at home practicing and getting ready to Roland Garros.

Q. What will it mean to be the No. 1 seed in Paris?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it's great to be No. 1 seed in a Grand Slam, in Paris. That's a tournament I really want to have a good result there.

I try not to think about it. For me it's the same to be No. 1, No. 2, No. 3. Probably the draw is the same in that ranking. It's great, but at the same time it's not really helpful for me.

Q. Were you a little bit down physically today? Usually you go on the court, you play inside the court. Today we saw you so far from the line. Is there maybe a physical issue?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, no, no. I was perfect physically. I just didn't feel comfortable. He made me to feel uncomfortable on court. I mean, he was aggressive all the time. He was playing inside all the time, the baseline all the time. It was tough for me to get into the match, into the rally. I made a lot of mistakes that I usually don't make too much.

Obviously these days can happen in tennis, and you have to handle it. As I said, in the second set I was close, I had my chances, but I didn't take the chances. He was at the same level all the time.

He deserves the win until the last point obviously.