CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 20, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz

Queens Club

Press Conference

J. DRAPER/C. Alcaraz

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What does this defeat mean for you? Will that change the approach for the next stop, like the next tournament in Wimbledon?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, of course is tough to deal with the losses, you know, but I think it's part of our lives. We have to, you know, be as good as you can. After the losses, you have to take the positive things and of course the negative things just to improve to the next tournament.

Yeah, I'm not too good right now. I felt like I didn't play well, I didn't move well. Of course I have to give credit to Jack. I think he played really good tennis today, but it doesn't change too much for me. Of course, I really wanted to keep playing matches, but it doesn't change nothing.

I'm gonna keep practicing as 100% just to improve, just to be a little bit better to Wimbledon, and my focus right now is just to the practice courts and be at my 100%.

Q. Looked like you were having a bit of a conversation with Mohamed about the serve clock. Did you feel like you were being rushed out there?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, he told me that there is a new rules, this new thing, that the clock never stop. After the point is finished, the clock is putting on.

I think for the player is something bad. I mean, I finish the point at the net, and I had no time to ask for the balls. I mean, I'm not saying to go to a towel and taking my time. I feel like I can't ask for the balls. It's crazy. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces.

I mean, I think I have never seen something like that in tennis. If you play a long point or finish at the net, you have time just to go for a towel or ask for your routine, ask for, in my case, four balls, I'm concentrating for the next point, just bouncing my bounces, and serve as best as I can.

Today I felt like I was in a rush all the time. I had no time to bounce and do my routine. Of course it's something bad for the players, I think.

Q. Will you speak to the ATP?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Not yet, but I will, for sure.

Q. Just wondering what you think perhaps Jack did so well today that perhaps caused you a few issues on court?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think he used to play on grass. I mean, he won last week in Stuttgart. He's playing great tennis. I mean, his serve was pretty well, as well.

He didn't let me, let's say, get into the match with his serve, and on the baseline he played a really solid match aggressively when he got to do it.

Yeah, I felt like he's, yeah, he was more prepared on grass than me.

Q. I wanted to ask you another Jack question, as well. How much better do you think he is since the last time you played him? Do you think with that serve and on grass he can now be a contender at Wimbledon?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, I don't know. Different surface. Is totally different surface. Totally different game between hard court and grass court.

One of the good things that I have on my game is the movement. I have to move better on grass. But, I mean, he got his first ATP title last week. I think he's doing well. You know, his mentality is a bit better. He's always in a positive way. I think it's a pretty good thing for him. I think that change a little bit. He's going up, for sure.

Yeah, I mean, if he plays like this way and, you know, in the difficult moments he stay in this level of mental, of positive things, I think he's a contender to do really well in Wimbledon.

Q. What are your plans now? Are you going to go home? If you're going home, when will you come back to get finally ready for Wimbledon? What will you do?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I don't think I'm going to go back home. I think the best way to be better on grass is to stay here, practice with players, physically doing good stuff on grass and the movement, really specific things. In Spain or at my home, we don't have grass courts or really grass places just to practice.

So I'm gonna stay here. My focus is, I don't know, I have to talk with my team, but yeah, I'm close to Wimbledon, so as soon as I can, I'm gonna focus on the practicing with players, practicing and everything, and I hope to be better.

Q. If I'm not wrong, it was your very first match on grass against a lefty. I was wondering, how is it for you to play lefties? Is that a bigger challenge?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I don't want to play... (smiling). No, I'm kidding.

I don't know. Yeah, I think, yeah, it was the first time that I'm playing a lefty here on grass. It's different, let's say, with his serve in the outside, it's difficult to return it.

But, you know, it doesn't change too much just with that serve. It's a really good point for the lefty players, but, you know, playing in the baseline, playing in the match, for me it doesn't change too much.

Q. Given your short amount of time on grass after Paris, is this loss easier to accept than another loss in a different period?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, every loss is difficult to me. It doesn't matter if I not too well prepared. Doesn't matter if it's my first, second match on grass this year. For me, every match let's say is difficult today because I don't want to lose any time.

Yeah, you have to accept it, you have to be better, see the things that I did wrong and try to be better in the next match.

Q. Carlos, you say you'll stay here. When will Juan Carlos come out? How much are you looking forward to defending the title of Wimbledon?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, honestly, I don't know exactly day that Juan Carlos is coming. I don't know if it's on Sunday or Monday. But, yeah, he's hungry. I know that. As I said, right now I'm hungry just to be better, to practice, and that's all I have to do.

I'm really excited to starting Wimbledon. Of course I really want to win every title that I go, and I think Wimbledon is even more special. So, as I said, I have time, and excited to start the first match on Centre Court.