MUTUA MADRID OPEN

April 26, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/A. Shevchenko

6-2, 6-1

(Questions in Spanish.)

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Carlos, you said I think on the court that you couldn't go 100% with your forehand. You didn't feel comfortable. Do you think you will be able to do that soon? Are there things that you can do, or do you think it's within your power to get injured less, that there is training that you can do to stay healthier?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Say again the last question?

Q. Is there training that you can do so that you get injured less? To prevent injury, is there more that you can do?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, in the first question, I didn't hit my forehand 100%. I hit it softer than I used to hit it, but I think it helped me, you know, to, you know, let's say, stay relaxed, and, you know, I think more than the shots that I have to hit.

But the first thing that I was thinking about when I was stepping on the court is to stay healthy, to not feel anything in the forearm. That's the main thing for me. And then it was the shots or the level.

I was really happy to not feel anything in the forearm, and after that, I could increase my intensity. I could increase my forehand a little bit, and it was great for me this match.

The second question, yeah, I have been doing things in the forearm to prevent injure in my full body, let's say, just to stay healthy as much as possible, to go to tournaments at 100%. This are work that I have to do every day if I want to, you know, play every tournament during the year.

Q. Carlos, what were your feelings on the court today in your first clay match? Do you think you will still be able to get enough matches in before Roland Garros?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I hope so (smiling). Yeah, this one was the first match since Miami. You know, I think I played a really good level, hopefully keep going and play more matches. You know, that play on clay court, you have to be a lot of hours on court just to be ready for the biggest stages and, you know, finding your best version of yourself on clay.

Right now I'm thinking to be better or get better every day, and I'm thinking to be closer to my 100% here in Madrid, and let's see how it's gonna be the next few weeks. But the main thing is to be ready for next tournament and obviously to Roland Garros.

Q. Can you tell us more about your reaction at the end of the match with your team? Was it like relief or something like that?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I mean, my reaction, it was that I was able to compete and I felt really, really well. You know, with my team we have done really good work these past weeks, a lot of doubts if I'm gonna play or not.

So at the end, I played in a great version, a great level, so that's why I celebrated the win and celebrated with my team in that way.

Q. Carlos, there are cameras following you around and there is going to be some sort of documentary or docuseries about you. What is something that you really hope can be shown about you or your lifestyle, your personality, that's kind of a message you'd like to convey through that docuseries? What do you hope people will take away from that?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I mean, I want to show my personality, let's say, my person. Everybody knows Carlos Alcaraz as a tennis player on the court, and I think it's a totally person that what I am.

You know, I think it's a beautiful story to show that little kid, you know, pursuing his dream, and becoming a No. 1 of the world I think is beautiful.

I want to show everybody who I am off the court. So that's why I'm doing this thing, and I think it's going to be a beautiful one.