DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 20, 2024

David Ferrer

Carlos Alcaraz

Marcel Granollers

Team Spain

Press Conference

KOOLHOF-vandeZANDSCHULP/Alcaraz-Granollers

7-6, 7-6

Team Netherlands - 2

Team Spain - 1

THE MODERATOR: Hello, everyone. Let's start the press conference with Team Spain with questions in English.

Q. Good evening to you. A question for Carlos to start the press conference. How do you feel about the legacy now that Rafa has left? Do you think of yourself as his heir?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, as he said, I think that he was one of the best ambassador for tennis. I mean, his legacy is going to be eternal. You know, he has been great for tennis, for this sport in general.

Yeah, it is difficult, at least for me. I don't want to think that I should continue, you know, the legacy that he has left. It is difficult, almost impossible. I will try to do my best, but right now, you know, it's time to say, you know, just great things about Rafa, what he has done, you know, during his career.

I think he has said everything, but, you know, the way he left, you know, tennis, it is incredible. Probably he was one of the players that put tennis, you know, in the top of sport in the top of the world.

So it is just great to have had Rafa in tennis and, you know, in this period in my life.

Q. A question for David Ferrer. Can you tell us when exactly did you make the decision to choose Rafa to play singles? Did you have any hesitation between singles and doubles?

CAPTAIN DAVID FERRER: I decide on Monday. Rafa, he was improving every day his tennis. And, yeah, beginning of the week I knew that Marcel, he was ready to play doubles, for sure. And on Saturday or Sunday we tried, we practiced on doubles, and on Sunday I decide that I knew that Marcel gonna play with Carlos. Yeah, and that's it.

It never is easy, because I had other options like Roberto Bautista, no? But Rafa and Roberto, they were close, and finally I decide to play the singles, Carlos and Rafael.

Q. A question for Carlos. How difficult was it to play, knowing that it could be the end of the career of Nadal? Did it put some pressure on you more?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Not really. You know, we played in Davis Cup. You know, when Rafa was playing, I was there the three first games. Couldn't handle the nerves, so I had to left and be ready for my match (smiling).

If I would have stayed the whole match, probably I couldn't play my match. So I just try to be focused on myself, you know, on try to put a good tennis. So good tennis, you know, as I said the beginning of the week, I really wanted to do it for Rafa, and, you know, I should, you know, stay focused on my game, try not to think about, you know, Rafa's last tournament, Rafa's last match.

I didn't want to think about it. I just wanted to help the team as much I can. I wanted to try to, you know, win both matches just to keep going, try to enjoy this week much more, but I couldn't. But it wasn't the extra pressure that knowing it was Rafa's last tournament.

Q. David, a similar sort of question. How difficult, or if it was difficult, has it been for you as the captain, considering all that has been going on and being talked about this week coming in here when the focus really was to win irrespective of who was in the team?

CAPTAIN DAVID FERRER: It wasn't difficult. In the end, I am the captain. I decide that the players that they are going to play, and we knew that Holland, they have good players. And with this format never is easy.

The court is faster than usually on the tour. This is not excuse, because at the end, they do deserve win the tie, and congrats. In the end, this is sport, and, well, now it's a night that we are of course disappointed because we play at home with our crowd, and yeah, we are sad, of course.

But I am proud of my players. They try to do their best. They compete. As I said before, this is sport. We have to accept and nothing else. And tomorrow is going to be another day, yeah (smiling).

Q. Carlos, what do you think you can take from this experience in Malaga, playing with your country? How do you think you can go forward through next year with what you have taken from this time in Malaga?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I lived a new experience for me. I have played the Davis Cup before, but I have never, you know, went out to the court 1-Love knowing that I have to win.

It was the only thing that I could do, just win just to get the life, you know, the day, let's say, and making 1-All. So this new experience is help me a lot to grow up as a player, as a person. This experience is going to be really helpful for my future, for my career, playing with the pressure that I have to win.

And playing some doubles, as well, that I love playing doubles. 1-All, everything is decided in the doubles. A lot of difficult points. A lot of tense moments that for sure is gonna help me a lot in my career.

So I always try to enjoy every time that I play at home in Spain that I'm not used to play more often, and yeah, these kind of moments, it is going to be remembered for me for the rest of my life and really, really helpful for me.