ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 5, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Carlitos, welcome to Shanghai. We know that you just arrived from Beijing, but you've seen just a little bit of the city. What's your impression so far of the city and the venue?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Here in Shanghai? Well, yeah, just I had not too much time to visit the city. I come here to the club, feel the courts and stuff, but I could walk around this morning from the city and see it a little bit. I enjoy my time, my day off here in Shanghai, and I'm ready to practice and feel the court, how it's going to be. I'm excited to start the tournament.

THE MODERATOR: We'll have some questions. Please raise your hand and introduce yourself.

Q. You've just come from Beijing. Obviously, you were out of the China Open to Jannik Sinner, and you said after that match that you went out of your mind in the second set, and I just wondered, have you had time now to reflect on why and how that happened and how you plan to avoid that happening in this tournament?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I talked with Juan Carlos on how I would have to change it, you know, how can I be better, you know, on that part.

Obviously, I have to do my homework, to re-watch the match and to see the things more clear, you know, and study what happened exactly, and be able to practice and be better on this tournament. I have just one day to practice and then the tournament is going to start, but I think I'll be ready, and I'll change what I did wrong in Beijing.

Q. Given everything that you've experienced or achieved on tour you seem like a really experienced player, but how nice is it to still have new experiences, like coming to Shanghai?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I like different things, new things. You know, I love to come to different places, different tournaments, and see how it is.

Of course, we couldn't come here to Shanghai. You know, when I break into the tour and starting playing the tournaments, we couldn't get in here in Shanghai.

It's a tournament that I really wanted to play since I started playing the tour, so I'm really excited to feel different things, getting in Shanghai and of course a Masters 1000. You know, for me, it's great to learn from new experiences like this one.

Q. Your last title was obviously Wimbledon. I was just wondering if you could maybe talk through, you know, what your priorities are for the rest of the season. Is there any title on your mind or even the world No. 1 ranking? Is that something that you think about?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yes, honestly, the tournaments that I have already had, I'm thinking about the No. 1, be able to earn the No. 1. For me, that's the main goal for right now to the end of the season. Let's see, you know. But as well to learn, you know, from the, I'm going to say from, you know, the failures, that probably I could experience. You know, I learn from that and learning how can I be better every day or every practice, you know, that's the main thing for me, but obviously, the No. 1 is, you know, on my mind as well.

Q. I was wondering, did you watch the final of China Open and are you surprised Jannik finally win Daniil after losing to him, like, six times in a row, or can you talk about those two guys to talk about that?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I watch it a little bit, not the whole match. I wasn't surprised at all. I know the capacity of Jannik. I know his level. He's one of the best in the world right now and he can beat anyone. I'm not surprised about the final.

I know that he lost six times in a row against Daniil, you know, but sometimes you can be a better player because of that, you know, to study, you know, the opponent game and what he did wrong in the previous matches to be better and to be able to beat him this time.

So really happy for him, but honestly, I expect him to win, honestly, because the level that he was playing was unbelievable.

Q. You spoke earlier about still wanting to learn in your tennis career. I was just wondering if you could talk about what is the most important lesson you have learned already.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Sorry?

Q. What's the most important lesson you've already taken from tennis?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Oh, that's a good one (smiling). I don't know, probably that I cannot make everyone happy. I just have to be focused on myself, on being myself all the time. You know, don't pretend to make everyone happy. It's impossible. I'm going to say that, just to be focused on myself, being myself all the time, and that's everything for me.

Q. I was wondering, did Juan Carlos share any story or any of his, like, experience in Shanghai to you? Because he played the final, like, 20 years ago, right before you were even born into this world.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Juan Carlos?

Q. Yes, he was in the final in 2002 in Shanghai.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, he didn't tell me, honestly. We talk a little bit, you know, from here, from Shanghai, but he didn't tell me a funny story or something, just to, you know, tell me a little bit how it's there, the tournament, how it's there, the city, but nothing more than that. I will ask him (laughing).