CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 22, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Queens Club

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/J. Lehecka

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Carlos. This is your first quarterfinal on grass. How do you feel and how was the match today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I feel great, you know, having my first quarterfinal on grass, my first quarterfinal here on Queen's. Yeah, I'm really happy with the level that I played today. You know, I hope to keep this high level into the quarterfinals.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I noticed you were out after the match hitting some serves on Court No. 7. Was it just because you weren't happy with something that was happening on court, or why were you out there getting some extra practice after your match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, you know, I play great, I'm really happy with my performance, with the way that I played, you know, but I can be better (smiling).

You know, Samuel told me to do some stuff after the match, some serves, some forehand, you know, just to feel a little bit better. But it doesn't mean that I'm not happy with the way that I hit the ball or the way that I played today.

Q. Presumably, because I know you weren't practicing between matches at the French Open, for example, this means you're very happy with your physicality? You're not worried about overloading your body?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I'm feeling great. You know, I'm not worried about it. I just continue with I'm doing well, and, you know, I'm really happy with everything that I'm doing right now.

So, you know, it's depend of the tournament, depend of other things that I'm practicing or not, but right now I'm feeling great.

Q. Carlos, I think in Spanish earlier this week you said that you have been watching videos of Roger Federer and Andy Murray moving on grass. I just wondered if you could speak more about that in English. And also, what exactly are you trying to learn from them?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I mean, I watch some videos about my opponents first, and then, you know, I have a lot of time to watch videos, to learn from the best players in the world, Andy, Roger, Djokovic.

You know, right now we are on grass and I want to, you know, look up to the best players on grass and movers. You know, on grass, Roger and Andy for me are the best players that are moving great on grass. So I want to be the same, you know, like them.

I'm not talking about Djokovic because Djokovic slides like clay court, and not my case, but I try to put similar stuff in my game that Roger and Andy does in grass.

Q. I saw you playing what looked like mini golf at the end of your practice now as well. How good of a golfer are you? And is that something you do just to take the pressure off and unwind?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, we play a lot of games when I'm with my team, and mini golf, golf, are one of them. It's something that turn off my mind a little bit to be happy to enjoy, you know, the time here and, you know, have quality time with my team as well.

I have to improve a little bit more on golf. I'm not too good (smiling). But it's something that I love to play, love to learn.

Yeah, as I say, it's something that they help me a lot to, you know, to turn off my mind a little bit from tennis.

Q. Could you tell us anything with reference to perhaps the videos you have watched or your experience on grass? You have been here six days now, I think. Is there anything specific that you have really learnt that you didn't know before you arrived here or anything that you have picked up?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, moving. You know, moving on grass, as I said a few times, for me is the key of everything on grass. You know, is the key if you are playing good or not.

You know, practicing, having sets, having matches, you know, my body right now, you know, help you a lot to feel more comfortable on grass, to feel better on grass.

You know, when I arrive here, I got my first practice on grass, you know, hitting balls. So it was a little bit, you know, different for me, but right now I have, yeah, as you said, six days practicing on grass. I played two matches, and I would say played a good level in the two of them.

So right now I'm feeling great and feeling with a lot of confidence moving and of course hitting the ball here on grass.

Q. Is it maybe smaller steps or something like that, the footwork on grass compared to clay?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, you have to be more focused, you know, on the footwork here. Talking from me, I can't slide as I do on clay or on hard court, so you have to know that and, you know, practicing from that part, you have to adapt your moves or your hit on grass.