CHINA OPEN

October 2, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/J. Sinner

6-7, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.

Q. You had an incredible match. You and Jannik bring out the best in each other every time you play. Where does this match rank among your previous matches and what is so special about tonight?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I'm start saying that when Jannik and I face each other, playing against each other, I think it's a really good thing for tennis because we always show a really intense match, really close match, great points, great rallies.

I think for the people who don't watch tennis, probably thanks to these kind of matches start to watch tennis or even practice it. I think it is pretty good.

I try to enjoy as much as I can playing against him, but it's not easy. I'm really happy. I mean, when you're able to beat one of the best, if not the best, tennis player in the world, obviously it seems like you're doing the right things, you're doing the right work.

I'm proud about myself with everything I've done the last month, working really hard physically, on the court as well. It has been an intense month. But really happy to end it up with the trophy here in Beijing, with a really incredible match.

I think both of us show a really high level of tennis, high level of mentally, physically until the last ball running from side to side, showing really good rallies, really good points in the tiebreak of the third.

I'm really happy to be able to get that win at the end.

Q. In a match that ended up being the longest in men's singles history at the China Open, how do you find the second gear and win seven straight points in the tiebreak at the end?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it was a really close match. I mean, Jannik could win in straight sets. I could win in two sets. I had my chances in the first set. Didn't take it.

Yeah, I'm really happy with the way that I managed that moment. I lost the first set with a lot of opportunities. Didn't make it. Coming up in the second set, tried to clear my mind a little bit and just tried to keep going, playing a good tennis that I was doing the first set.

At the end it was close. I mean, I thought in the tiebreak, the stats about Jannik's tiebreaks, I think he didn't lose like the last 18 or 15 tiebreaks, he didn't lose any one. Then it started 3-Love with two mini breaks. I thought, Okay, I will try not to lose another tiebreak, but it was tough. Next two points was really close points, as well.

After that, I just tried to keep going, tried not to think about anything else but the next point. I tried to play the same way I was playing. If I miss it, I miss it. I wanted to think that I went for it all the time.

I say that's all that matters.

Q. I saw your coach crying in the box. He looked very emotional. I never seen him cry. Did he tell you anything about why he so emotional? Is that because of pressure? How high is his expectation to you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I didn't see him crying. That's a good thing to know, I guess (smiling).

But yeah, I mean, it was a really special win for me, lifting this trophy in front of my team, part of my family. It was a great moment for me.

I guess he got emotional at the end because we all know what we went through the last month or the last two months. It was a really difficult moment on the court, off the court.

As I said in the speech, thanks to them I started to get the joy back playing the matches, practicing, I got motivated again. I really wanted to travel, to play tournaments again. Probably after the American swing, I was a little bit down, that I didn't want to touch a racquet for a while. I didn't want to travel, let's say.

After that we talk a lot during those days, knowing that I have to be back practicing, be stronger physically, be stronger mentally just to overcome on those problems, let's say. The last month we've been working really, really hard on the court, off the court, just to be able to feel this moment again.

I'm going to say that's why he got emotional. For me, it was special. For the people that are around me, it's a special moment.

I going to say that's why.