ROLAND GARROS

June 2, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/F. Auger-Aliassime

6-3, 6-3, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Well done for today, for the third year into the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. What were you most proud of your performance today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I'm really happy to be back in the quarterfinal here in Roland Garros. I think -- what I think, no -- this is a special tournament for me that you always want to go far in this tournament.

Yeah, I'm really happy with the performance in general. I moved well. Tactically it was a really good match for me. Yeah, it was up and downs in the match today. Something that I'm really working on every day, so I'm really proud of this.

THE MODERATOR: English questions, please.

Q. You said on the court you had the key to Stefanos, and I was curious what you meant by that. Is that because you, obviously, beat him here last year or if you could just explain what that means?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, he did a bit media. So the matches that we've played, I won all of them. So that's what I wanted to mean when I said that they have the key against him because I think it's 5 or 6.

It doesn't mean I have to play at my 50%. So I know that Stefanos is playing great, but I know tactically what I have to do in the match, which I'm not going to say, obviously, but I know what I have to do in the match.

Q. I just wanted to ask you about Novak. You played him here last year, obviously, and I just wanted to ask what makes him such a tough player on this surface? We know about him on hard courts, but also on clay he has won three times at Roland Garros. What is so tough about him on this surface?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, he's really tough on every surface, but here on clay he put so much pressure on you in every point. In every point -- the first point to the last one you have to play long rallies, like seven, eight, nine balls. Every rally at your 100%, at your best level. For him it is normal, but most of the players are really demanding match.

So I think most of the player it is really difficult to stay at this high of level of tennis, really high level of intensity. Mental part is a really important part as well.

I remember last year that I couldn't finish the match on my 100% because in just two sets I was -- I mean, I was down of intensity. I couldn't stay at the 100%. For him, okay, it was normal.

I'm going to say that's the most difficult part of facing Novak here on this surface.

Q. A few days ago you talked about changing your service motion. I'm just curious, what did you hope to improve in your serve with the changes, and how are you feeling about this shot now in general?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, different conditions. I mean, the previous matches I was playing with the roof. That is totally different match for me. Without the roof, the ball bounces much more. The ball doesn't become bigger. It's a few things that change a lot of the match. For me it's better to play without the roof. I'm not going to lie.

My game is getting better and better. My confidence is getting higher. Every practice that I'm doing or every day that I'm here in Roland Garros, I'm feeling better and better.

So I think that's really important part for me to the next round that I need that confidence against Stefanos.

Q. You said on court that Novak started too late. You've been part of a lot of late-night matches. What does it do to your recovery, and how can that be changed with the schedules in this sport?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, for me I don't like night session, but not for the crowd. I think that the crowd in night session is special, but we end so late, press conference, physio, ice bath.

We have to do a lot of things that is really important things to recover for the next matches. It's not only the last ball. We have a lot of important things to do. And Novak, I'm sure he went to go to sleep at 6:00 a.m., and the last point finished at 3:00, something like that. Three hours, you know, between the last point until he went to go to sleep.

It's really difficult to recover when you are going to go to sleep so, so late. I mean, for me it's much better to finish at 6:00, having dinner really, really well at restaurant, a good restaurant, good food (laughing). So everything is better if you finish early.

You know, the night session is a real thing, so we can't change it. We have to adapt ourselves as much as or as better as we can to the matches.

Q. To rebound to the last question, do you have a special time of the day that you feel you can play your best tennis, you feel you're in shape?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I don't mind. In terms of tennis, I don't feel that I am playing better night session, day session. As I say, in terms of recovery and all that stuff, I prefer day session for sure.