THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 10, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/M. Berrettini

3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3

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

Carlos, give us your thoughts on the match.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I'm really, really happy to get through this amazing match. I'm really happy to be able to play my first quarterfinal here in Wimbledon. Really excited about it. Let's keep rolling.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. In the quarterfinal you will meet Holger. We know you and him are very good friends. Are you looking forward to that? Have you been texting and talking with each other about the match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I'm really excited about this match. We shared a lot of great moments. We played together since we were 12 years old. We've not texted each other, but obviously we know really well each other.

Yeah, I'm really excited about it. I think he's the same.

Q. You and Holger have known each other for such a long time, do you have any particular memory of him that you think about when you hear his name?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I remember when we were 12 years old or 11 years old, I think that's the first time I saw him, a tournament in Mallorca. I think it was Tennis Europe under 12. I talk with him a little bit.

In that tournament we played the first time together. I remember really clearly. Yeah, that's the first memory that I have with him.

Q. What do you think about Matteo Berrettini and the way he plays against you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I think he played well. I am going to say that I'm really, really happy to see him in those rounds, playing that level. I know that he was struggling a lot this year.

I think he has work really hard to come back at his level. I think himself and his team, well, they are doing a great work to recovering his level little by little, step by step.

Yeah, I'm really, really happy to play against him at that level and see him in that rounds fighting for great things again. Very excited to see him again and play against him again.

Q. I just talked to Holger outside. I asked about which weapon he would take from you. He said not a lot, he's satisfied with his game. He would say your forehand dropshot. If you could say one weapon from Holger's game to your game, what would you say?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: The backhand. I'm going to say that. If I have to take some weapon from him, I'm going to say the backhand. I'm not saying that my backhand is bad, no. I think he has a great backhand.

Yeah, I'm going to take that.

Q. He had the backhand side when you played doubles at juniors, the left side?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I remember that he took the backhand side, right. That's why (smiling).

Q. The 12 months between this Wimbledon and last year, where do you think your grass court game has most improved?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I'm going to say the movement, the confidence. I could say I improved the most since last year. I have more confidence, more experience. I would say on grass is really, really important. I'm going to say that.

Q. Holger has described you as a very passionate player. How would you describe him?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I'm going to say the same. He has a lot of passion. He loves the game. He's a really competitive guy, as well. I could describe him like this.