THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/A. Muller

6-4, 7-6, 6-3

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

Questions, please.

Q. Your second time on Centre Court. Were there any nerves to begin with or did you feel comfortable after last year?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, a little bit at the beginning. But the experience that I had last year help me a lot to manage the nerves better than the last year.

Of course, the round is different. Playing the fourth round against Sinner in second round. It was different. This time I enjoying. I enjoyed a lot.

Q. You must be delighted with your first win on Centre Court. What does it mean to you to win there? Do you feel like you belong there now?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I mean, I feel that. Of course, is really special to have my first win on Centre Court here in Wimbledon. A really beautiful court. Of course, I really wanted to have my first one.

I feel that I belong in that court. I feel like I'm ready to play more matches, to play more great matches on that court.

Q. Does it take readjusting for Centre Court? Does it feel different? Do you have to readjust a little?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I felt different from Centre Court than the Court 1. I felt the Centre Court is faster for me than the Court 1. It was different for me. At the beginning the match was long, let's say, and I adjust very well until the end.

It was different at the beginning.

Q. I think it's seven wins in a row now on grass. Do you feel like you can up the level and get even better?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I feel that I can be better. Today I'm going to say it wasn't my best match on grass, but I feel great, by the way.

I always say that doesn't matter if you play a perfect match, you can be better. It's my case.

Q. Obviously there's lots of expectations and pressures on your shoulder being the top seed. How do you cope with that, people talking about a potential final against Novak Djokovic?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: It would be amazing for me play a final here in Wimbledon. Even better if is against Novak obviously.

But there's a lot of great players playing here on grass, that feel really, really comfortable on grass. I have to be really, really focus until the final. It's a lot of matches ahead. I can't be relax. I have to play my best in every match. Let's see if I reach the final or not (smiling).

Q. You must be happy with the dropshots today.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I mean, the dropshot is a weapon for me. I try to use it in every match. Today was really, really good for me. I won a lot of point with the dropshots.

I'll try to do it again in the next round.