ROLAND GARROS

May 26, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/J.J. Wolf

6-1, 6-2, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Carlos, congratulations. If you can walk us through today's match, what was the key?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think today was a really good match. I played a really high level. Honestly it feels like I didn't stop playing, and it was great for me to feel like this way in the first match, in the first round, just to get rhythm, to get confidence into the coming rounds.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. How is your arm after the match? Is it at 100%? And are you still planning to play doubles with Rafa here at the Olympics?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I think the arm is 100%. Obviously I still feeling weird, let's say, or afraid to hit every forehand, I mean, 100%.

It's still in my mind, but I didn't feel anything after the match, I didn't feel anything, which is really, really good for me. So I can say it's full recovered.

Yeah, the second one, if everything goes well, we are going to play doubles together here.

Q. I just want to ask you, are you going to watch the Sascha/Nadal game tomorrow? Who are you rooting for, and why?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: (Laughter.) I'm going to be honest. I said many times that I really want to enjoy as much as I can Rafa's games here in this tournament, you know, in the next tournaments.

I don't know. I'm gonna watch it. That's for sure. I'm gonna set my schedule tomorrow. If I can come to watch the match, I will do it. But, you know, they are rivals, so I can't go with any side, but for sure it's going to be a really good match to watch as a fan.

Q. Can I ask you about Jack Draper, please? You were exchanging text messages last year when he was going through an injury period. Can you talk about that and talk about what an emerging young talent he is in tennis?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I mean, he's a really nice person off the court, on the court, as well. I mean, we texted each other a little bit. You know, last year when he got injured, he text me to congratulate me after a few tournaments, myself as well to him.

He's a very talented player, really good one, tough one. He deserves everything he gets. But he's still playing. If everything goes well in the fourth set, they are going to go to a fifth one. Let's see against I'm gonna play against in the next round, but obviously I'm going to follow the end of the match.

Q. What are your expectations coming into this event? Does the fact that you're coming back from the arm injury, does that affect your expectations and your goals this fortnight?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, honestly, I'm with low expectations coming into this tournament, but after the practice week, after this first round, well, the confidence is higher. My expectations probably got higher after today's match, but let's see.

You know, all I can say is I'm feeling great on the court. I feel amazing in this match, so hopefully keep going.

Q. Carlos, you were practicing and playing today with that performance sleeve.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah.

Q. Does it help you? Does it make your arm feel better? Is it because of that or is it a fashion thing you're wearing the sleeve for?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, my physio told me it helps in certain way. I don't know which way, but he told me it helps (smiling). He told me that there is no decided to wear the sleeves, but I just wear it just in case, because everybody's told me that it helps to my mind in a certain way just to try to forget everything in my forearm. That's why I'm wearing this.

Q. Very good to see you recovered and ready for the tournament. You and Jannik are coming off the injuries, and it's unfortunate to see that a bit more in the young players these days. What do you think is the reason for those injuries? Is it maybe too much intensity, too many matches? How would you say something about that?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think the tour increase the intensity. I think we are player with much power. The game is faster, let's say. It's more demanding. Of course the schedule during the year is so, so demanding. We can't rest too much, you know, between tournaments, between the important ones. You know, a lot of changings, as well, I think it helps to get injured.

I think it's a lot of things, you know, all together that I think that a lot of players is getting injured right now.

Q. You were saying that it's sort of on your mind not to go 100% on your forehand. Is that all because of you, or have trainers or doctors told you, you know, maybe take it a little easy on your forehand at first or with your arm?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Because of me (smiling). Everybody told me that I must go to 100% on every forehand, but I don't feel as comfortable as before, you know, just to play every forehand and forget my forearm.

I'm trying to hit as many forehand as I can 100%, but there are a few of them that I want to, you know, to stay easy, let's say.