THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 14, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/D. Medvedev

6-3, 6-3, 6-3

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

Carlos, tell us how the match went for you.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, played great today. I thought a really good level, tennis level and tactical level as well. Was one of my best matches on grass right now. Really, really happy to get through to the final.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How much do you like grass now?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Could become my best surface (smiling).

No, but I always like play on grass. Probably after this year even more.

Q. Rafa won here for the first time against Roger. It was special because of that. For you, how important is it to win it against the champ, against Novak?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, gives you extra motivation. I think it's more special to play final against a legend from our sport.

Well, if I win, it could be amazing for me - not only win a Wimbledon title but do it against Novak would be super special.

But I always say if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Novak is one of them. Would be great if I'll do it.

Q. Where do you rate this match among all the very good matches you played on a tennis court? Was it your absolute best level?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I mean, this one probably was one of my best matches, not only on grass but on the tour. I rate like 8 from 10, something like that. It was amazing for me. I showed a great level.

Yeah, probably one of my best matches.

Q. When you played Novak at Roland Garros, you suffered cramp in the semifinal. What do you do to stop that from happening? What lessons did you learn from that match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I try to get into the court with not as much nerves as I probably had in French Open, in the semifinal. I try to pull out all nerves, try to enjoy that moment 'cause probably in the semifinal at the French Open I didn't enjoy at all in the first set probably.

I'll do something different from the match. I prepare the match a little bit different from French Open. It's going to be different for me. I hope not to get cramp during the final.

I think I'll be better on Sunday.

Q. With that in mind, what will you do differently before the match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, physically I'll do it the same, what I was doing before the matches. Probably in the mental part I will do something different, to stay calm, to show that I'm not nervous. Some exercise in the mental part.

I don't know what I'm going to do, but I'll do some exercise to stay calm and to forget - or I'll try to forget that I'm going to play a final against Novak.

Q. You said you were pleased with your tactics against Daniil today. Do you already know in your head what your tactics will be against Novak?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Not yet (smiling).

I have to get deep into that because Novak has no weakness, so it's going to be really tough to find the way to be danger for him.

Right now is not the time to think about it. I will have time tomorrow, the day off before, to prepare the match. I talked with my team. We will find the way to win Novak.

Q. Novak said the eyes of the sports world will be on this match. How would you describe the importance of this match to you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Probably is going to be, I mean, the best moment of my life - probably. Playing a final here in Wimbledon is something that I dream about when I start playing tennis. As I said before, it's even better playing against Novak.

It's going to be a really emotional moment for me. But I'll try to stay calm in that moment. For Novak is one more day, one more moment. For me, it's going to be the best moment of my life I think.

Q. Why do you think you stood out in a family that's crazy about tennis? Was Wimbledon the tournament you wanted to win when you were young?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Say again.

Q. About the family, why do you think you stood out having the same genes? Was Wimbledon - like for Rafa - the Grand Slam you wanted to win first when you were a kid?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I don't know. I mean, my father couldn't turn pro, couldn't pursue his dream to be a professional tennis player. Old times, it was different times than now, that's obviously. It's, I would say, tougher to get deep into tennis. He couldn't.

He always wanted to be into tennis, as a coach. All my brothers know how to play tennis. My dream, it was always to be professional. I pursue my dream since I start playing tennis.

I would say the ambitious that I could reach my dream to be professional. I don't know how to explain it, but I going to say that.

I always wanted to win all the Grand Slams. As I say before, I would say here in Wimbledon is the most beautiful tournament that I played.

Yeah, probably is one of the slams that I want to win first.

Q. You said 'mental exercises' before the final. Is there someone you work with on that? Do you have a psychologist, something like that?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I have a psychologist that I work with since the beginning of 2020. She help me a lot. I will talk with her how to prepare that match, that important moment for me, that is not going to be easy.

But I'll talk with her.

Q. We know you grew up idolizing Roger. What is Novak to you? What do you admire about him?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I grew up watching him, as well. I mean, he has beating all the big guys, Roger and Rafa, when he was younger.

Being the guy he is right now, everything he has been through is amazing. As I said before, he has no weakness. He's really complete guy, really complete player. He's amazing. He does nothing wrong on the court. Physically he's a beast. Mentally he's a beast. Everything is unbelievable for him.

I think it's a mix of everything that I admire him the most.