AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 15, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/Y. Nishioka

6-0, 6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Carlitos, another straight-set win. Do you feel your level was better than the first round?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I think so. I think I played a really solid, solid match today. I improved the things that I had to improve from the first match. Just really, really happy with everything today.

Yeah, a really good win, important win for me. Three straight sets with a really high level. Hopefully continue like this.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You played on Margaret Court for your first two matches. Did you request to play on that court and do you like playing on Margaret Court Arena?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I like playing on Margaret Court Arena. I think it's a really beautiful court. Obviously I want to play on Rod Laver, but we have to see the schedule, as well.

As I said many times, I don't like to play night sessions. I prefer to play day session. After the match, I can recover much better. I can go to sleep at a good time. It's not too late for me. So I prefer to play a day session.

If I have to play on Margaret Court, which is a really beautiful and great court, I'm going to do it. Obviously center court of the Grand Slams, here in Australia the Rod Laver is one of those courts that you want to play in.

Q. Is that the best you feel you've served in a match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I think I improve a little bit. Or I felt much better today with the serve. Just ironic things that I must have bot. But I think I have to improve it a lot if I want to put my name on that list.

But yeah, I felt really well today with the serve.

Q. Were you aware that you hit 14 aces, and you won 89% of first serves, or it just felt right today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yesterday I was really focused on the serve in the practice. I spent more time serving yesterday. I talk with Juan Carlos what I have to do today in the serve, what I did wrong, what I did great from the first match serving. Just improve a little bit.

I felt more comfortable on it, yes. I think the serve's about confident and feelings. Today I felt great. The throw of the ball was great today, which it helps a lot in the serve today. I think yesterday practice was really helpful for today.

Q. Whether it's with the serve or other aspects of your game, how much do you rely on statistics or numbers, or do Juan Carlos or Samu come to you with numbers versus just what it feels like or how your perception is of how things go?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: About the serve?

Q. Also other parts of your game.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, we do see numbers, but not too much. We do see the percentage of the serve that I have. It has to be higher. That for sure. Is something that I have to improve. If the percentage is higher, that means the serve is working pretty well.

But in other things, we do see, but not too much. It's just about feelings. It's about how I hit the ball. If I hit it well or not, it doesn't matter. So if I hit the ball really well, and I miss it, it's okay. Just adjust a little bit, but I don't mind if I miss, hitting the ball in the right position.

In terms of what I have to improve, we see the numbers, but not too much.

Q. In particular, is it the accuracy and the precision of the serve or a speed and power thing, a timing thing? Can you explain what it is you're searching for?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Accuracy was one of them. Most of the serves I put the ball in what I wanted. The percentage, it was one of them as well. It was about feeling, as well. I felt really well with the movement, with the rhythm, throwing the ball.

In the first match I struggling a little bit with throwing the ball. Today I threw the ball most of ^ the sets in the right position. As I said, that helped a lot with the rhythm and with what I hit the ball.

So it was a mix of everything that I did much better today.

Q. I was wondering if you watched Joao Fonseca last night? What do you think he'll be able to win a slam?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I saw it. I saw a little bit. I couldn't watch it whole match. I saw a little bit at the beginning and the end of the match.

What can I say about it? Just incredible. I mean, the way he played his first Grand Slam match against his first top 10, it's unbelievable. The way he approach the match, the way he handle everything, the nerves, the match in general, it's been fantastic.

It's someone that I have to be care of, let's say. I have to see him. He's going to be there. Is just the beginning of the year, just one win in Grand Slam, but he's going to be there.

We're going to put the Joao Fonseca's name on the list of the best players in the world really soon.

Q. A couple of the players have mentioned that the balls felt a bit heavy. How have you found them?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: It could be a little bit heavier. Comparing of the end of last year, so for me was like two months already. I mean, I practice with different balls in the pre-season. They send me different balls. I can't compare with last year, last year's balls. I don't remember a lot.

I feel a little bit heavier. The conditions are fast for me. The courts are fast. The conditions with the heat, it's fast. But the ball could be a little bit heavier, yeah.