CHINA OPEN

September 25, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

An interview with:

CARLOS ALCARAZ

THE MODERATOR: Carlos, you just went to the Forbidden City this morning. How does it feel as your second time here?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, obviously first it feels great. I mean, it was a great experience being there. I couldn't go around so much last year. For me it's great to see a little bit about the culture here in China, see different things. Being there has been a great experience for me.

I'm really happy to be back here again in Beijing. Excited to start the tournament, seeing how it's going to be. Yeah, I'm living this experience here in China once again.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. Just bearing in mind the comments you made last week about the tour or the schedule 'killing us', as you said, quite strong comments, how do you feel this week with your energy levels? After your comments, were there any messages of support or feedback from other players about what you said?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, my energy level right now, it is good. I mean, I have motivations to come here to play a good tennis. I'm going to try to win the tournament, as I try to do to every tournament that I go.

Yeah, I mean, I've seen and I've hear a lot of players complain about the schedule, about the calendar as well. Didn't see after my words, after this I didn't hear, I didn't seen people or players talk about that. I've seen it before, before my words.

I hear about in Jannik's press conference here, he talk about it a little bit. He didn't complain as much as he did, he didn't complain big about the calendar.

It depends as well about the players. I mean, I'm talking about that. Probably a few players, a lot of players are not going in my side; a lot of them going to be in my side complaining about the calendar, that it is so tight. It depend about the feelings of every players.

I've seen a lot of people talk about my exhibitions this year and complain about the schedule, at the same time putting a lot of exhibition. But I want to say there is different things; we all have to separate the exhibitions and the calendar.

Yeah, as I said, it's about different feelings in every person. So I'm talking about myself, that the schedule it's been so tight since the first week of January till the last week of November. We have to take about it ourselves and we have to do something about it.

Q. Obviously a couple of days ago you helped Team Europe achieve an incredible victory in Berlin. What does that victory mean to you? How important is that momentum going into this tournament?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it was a great feeling. Obviously we all went to the Laver Cup just to try to win, help the Team Europe as much as we could to bring the trophy back. The last two years, Team World dominating the Laver Cup. For me, was a great achievement help the Team Europe to bring the cup back to Europe.

Yeah, as I said, it was a great tournament, great experience for me living side by side with the players that I'm used to fighting against each other during the whole year. Having that energy from them while I'm playing was an incredible, incredible experience for me.

Yeah, I mean, I played great, great matches there in the Laver Cup, what helped me a lot to have more confident coming here to this tournament.

I mean, I beat Shelton, who was playing great, and Taylor Fritz, who came from the final in New York. For me, having those victories, I mean, it is great for my confident and for my level just to come here with extra energy knowing that I'm ready to do a good result here, even knowing that I have a really tough draw.

Q. At the Laver Cup, Rafa withdraw at the very last minute. We know he just joined the Spanish team to play at the Davis Cup Final in November. Everyone is talking about his potential last dance in Malaga. What do you think of it? How will you cherish the chances to play with him?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, obviously it's always great having Rafa around. Yeah, I miss him. I'm not going to lie, I miss him in the Laver Cup.

Obviously, as I said, as much time as I can spend with him, for me it's a privilege. I don't want to think that it is a potential last dance for him in Malaga. I just want to think that I will trying to live or to enjoy his time around, to enjoy seeing him on court as much as I can.

Obviously it is a great support having him in the team. He can bring a lot of experience to Davis Cup. For me it's going to be my first Davis Cup Final. It's going to be a great experience for me.

Yeah, have the chance to spend more time off the court, on the court, as well, with him, it's going to be great for Team Spain and I think for the country, as well, that we're playing in Spain.

Yeah, I gonna enjoy that time. Hopefully it's not going to be the last time for him.