ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 11, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

G. DIMITROV/C. Alcaraz

5-7, 6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Tough luck, Carlitos. What can you say about Grigor's performance tonight?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think he plays great. He plays a great match since the beginning until the last ball, not up and downs in his game. Comparing to the matches that we have played before, you know, he was on another level today.

So, congratulations to him, and, you know, I have to be better if I want to beat this Grigor.

THE MODERATOR: Questions. Please raise your hand.

Q. After you came back to win the first set, I think probably everybody was expecting you to go on from there and win the match. What did you think happened that that didn't go and that didn't happen for you this time?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, probably I had to just start the second set better. I feel I made a few mistakes in the first game that I shouldn't do that. That's the truth.

You know, it was a little bit surprise for me as well, the way that he started the second set, after, let's say, a tough first set for him. As I said, he didn't make up and downs in his game. You know, after a really good first set, he started really well the second set and, you know, he kept really well, that level that intensity, during the second set and the third set. He didn't let me put my game on the mat.

I was all the time, you know, fighting to find a way to, you know, put the match on my own game, but I couldn't. I think that was the key of the match. I was all the time defending, I couldn't find the other way to put myself in a position to attack.

Q. Carlos, what will you work on in your game from here?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: In the next matches or...

Q. Or, just generally, what will you work on in your game?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Probably to, you know, stay, how do I say? Start better the second set. I think that's a point that it's tough for me. You know, after the first set, when I win the first set, more or less, it's tough for me to keep the focus at the beginning of the second set.

I'll work on a few mistakes that, in certain moments, that I, you know, I have to put it in, and I didn't. Those are the points that I have to work on.

Q. My question is about the world No. 1 at the end of the year. So, semifinal in Beijing and quarterfinal in Shanghai doesn't seem quite enough for you to catch Novak Djokovic, so do you still have the confidence and ambition to chase Novak?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, this loss I needed to be a little bit farther. It's going to be tougher, if I want to be No. 1. I have a few tournaments ahead, so I'll try to do my best. I'll try to, you know, win them, if I want to have a chance to end the year as No. 1. I don't know, but right now I lose a lot of opportunities to make it.

Q. Commiserations about your loss. Could you sum up this championship and, because the last time you were in Beijing you lost in the semifinal, and now you lost, you fell to the final six or final eight, so any lesson you can learn from this trip?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Sorry?

Q. Any lessons you can learn from this trip.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I always say that you can improve more from the defeat than the wins. After this trip, you know, I took a lot of lessons, you know, to improve, to be better.

As I said in Beijing, you know, I had to work on a few things to beat the best guys. After this loss, I mean, it's not too much time ago, so I have to think about it, but I will take a lot of lessons to improve in the practice before the tournament that I have ahead.

You know, I think I'm playing great tennis. Even if I didn't make the quarterfinal or losing in the semifinal, I think I'm playing great tennis. So I have to practice a hundred percent in these weeks before Basel, that's the next tournament for me, so I'll try to make my best in that tournament.