THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 4, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/J. Chardy

6-0, 6-2, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference for Carlos Alcaraz.

Carlos, good to get out on court and get the match finished. Tell us how you're feeling right now.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I'm really happy with the level that I play, with the performance today. Think I played a really good game today. Is something that I going to take to next round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. First match is important to pass the first round. What is your goal for this tournament?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: To win the tournament. That's the main goal right now for me. I have a lot of confidence right now. The main goal for me this tournament is to win, to win it (smiling).

Q. Roger Federer was on Centre Court. Have you had a chance to catch up with him? Would you want him to watch one of your matches?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I mean, after the match I was with the phone checking everything I have, all the stories, all the posts. I saw that Roger Federer was here. I was a little bit jealous (smiling). Honestly, I want Roger Federer to watch one of my matches obviously. I wish to talk a little bit with him. For me would be amazing.

I hope to see him around more than once.

Q. It was really important today from your point of view to get the match done, whereas most of the players on your side of the draw won't get much done with the rain. How important do you think that full day of rest will be?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: It's really important for me. I think the players that play with the roof in the Centre Court have more lucky, let's say, to be able to finish their matches. Not to wait for the rain is something that is advantage from the other player.

So for me it's really, really good to have finished the match and not wait for the rain. Let's see if my opponents are going to finish the match.

But for me, it's really, really good.

Q. You've said you've made an effort to learn about playing on grass. Did you learn something new today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I mean, every day you learn something new. Every time that I get out to the court playing, it's better for me. I get more experience that is really, really important in that surface.

Yeah, all I learn today is experience, get more hours on the court.

Q. What are the things about grass that you think are the most challenging for your style of play, the things that you might think, I need to overcome this, it's not as good for me as clay or hard court?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Let's say just stay focus all the time. Here let's say you are not focus one game, as I did in the third set, he break my serve, and you are down, let's say. For me, that's the most under thing, something that I have to learn more, to stay focused all the time, not let him dominate let's say one game or some part of the match.

That's something that I have to overcome in my game here on grass.

Q. Most people have got you down as the man that can stand in the way of Djokovic this tournament; you're on this path of destiny to meet in the final. Do you feel his eyes upon you every time you're out there playing? Do you feel he's watching you, sizing you up?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Do you mean Novak watch my matches?

Q. Do you feel his eyes upon you, that you're on the path to meet him.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I don't feel that. Probably he are watching my matches, he's controlling all I'm doing. Probably he does that. But I don't feel that he's 100% focused on my game, focused on my matches. It's like everyone talking about me.

I'm watching his matches, that's obviously, but not the whole match. I think he does the same as me.

Q. Obviously a couple of weeks since the semifinals exit at Roland Garros with the cramping. What have you done in the last couple of weeks with coach Juan Carlos to make sure that doesn't happen again?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: As I said, the main reason that I had cramp in the semifinal was the tension that I had facing Novak in the semifinal of a Grand Slam. I'm sure the experience is really important part on that.

I think I learned a lot from that match to the next time I'm going to face Novak. It's going to be different for me. I'm going to deal the pressure better than I did in the semifinal of French Open.

Yeah, all I talk with Juan Carlos is that, is the pressure, is the tension. I can't play with that tension. As I said, it's going to be different the next time.

Q. We saw Federer in the Royal Box. Djokovic is here. Of course, you could meet him in the final. Nadal is injured. Do you feel yourself as the heir, the successor of this great generation, and maybe a bit luckier because you don't have so many opponents of your age at your same level?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I don't feel that I'm the best of my generation. I mean, Sinner is there. Rune, as well. They are playing a great level. I mean, it's 1-0 head-to-head against Rune. I mean, he's up on me right now. Great matches with Jannik.

I don't feel at the time I'm the best in my generation. There are a lot of great players in my age that each are there right now. We are going to share great moments. That's all I can say right now.