AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/M. Kecmanovic

6-4, 6-4, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Carlitos, congrats. Through to your first quarterfinal here in Melbourne. How does it feel? How do you see your next match against Sascha?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it feels better to make the quarterfinal here in Melbourne. It's really big tournament, an amazing tournament.

I'm proud with the level that I am playing. So it's going to be a really tough quarterfinal against Sascha. Hopefully to make the semifinal here, but let's see how it's going to be the next match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. For your own confidence, how important is it to find this level right now heading into the quarters?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, obviously it's great to find this level, to play this level in the matches. I mean, as I said on the court, I'm feeling better and better every day. I'm feeling better and better every match that I'm playing. Coming into the quarterfinal with a lot of confidence.

I will try to take this as an advantage, the confidence that I have and the level that I'm playing. But hopefully in the quarterfinals against Sascha, will play a better match than today.

Q. Can you compare what is happening here on a court that you haven't played on very much with what happened at Wimbledon, which was also on a surface and on a court that you hadn't played on very much? I realize grass is very different, but this is a fast hardcourt. Is it a similar process of every match feeling more comfortable, if that's what happened last summer?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Probably. Could be. Honestly, well, as you say, grass and hardcourt are totally different. Probably the process could be similar. A court that I didn't play so much here in Rod Laver, I didn't play so much as well. Probably the process could be the same or similar.

All I can say, yeah, is I'm feeling -- I didn't think about it, but could be the same. Every match that I'm playing, I'm feeling better and better on a court I didn't play so much, as I said. Hopefully the same as Wimbledon. Yeah, could be the same.

Q. You've had some really good matches with Sascha over the last couple of years. How would you describe playing him, and how would you describe his attitude in a match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, he is a really great player. He has beaten great guys here in this tournament. Obviously I love playing against him. It's always a tough battles. I have to play my best level. He push me to play my 100% every time.

The last time we face each other, I lost. So I have to be focus on that. I have to improve my level from that match. I'm going to enjoy. I'm going to enjoy that match. I'm going to enjoy playing the quarterfinals against him and hopefully take the (indiscernible).

I think for the crowd it's going to be a great match, as well.