THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 26, 2022

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Carlos, how have your preparations been?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, is going pretty well. I always say that it's not easy to play on grass, and I couldn't play tournament before Wimbledon, so this week is going to be tough for me.

But I'm getting ready.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. We know you use a lot of kick serves on other surfaces. Have you had to make many adjustments to the serve to play better on grass?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: A little bit. Now I'm serving a little bit more the slice and not the kick. But it bounces well when I hit the kick as well.

I'm not play as much as I want the kick serve here.

Q. You mentioned the switch to grass. I'm wondering for you, what do you think is the hardest part for you of playing on grass, and what aspect of what you do well on other surfaces translates the best to grass?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: The hardest thing I would say to move. For me move well on grass is the hardest thing. Well, I would say to play aggressive, trying to go to the net, this the best part translate my game other surface to this one.

Q. I saw you today hitting with Dan Evans. You of course have less experience on this kind of surface. Are you trying to copy something or even talk to them to get your feelings as best as you can on the grass?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yes, of course. I trying to see the trainings of the best players. I think he play very well on grass. I'm trying to copy some things from the best ones.

I always watch videos of Federer, Djokovic, Rafa, Andy as well, trying to copy the moves and stuffs from them.

Q. You got a win last year in your Wimbledon debut, then you lost to Daniil Medvedev when he was world No. 2. He's now world No. 1, but not playing here this year. What do you think of the fact that some of the world's best players, including the top-ranked player in the world right now, is not allowed to play here at the tournament this year?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, is tough to a tournament no allow the No. 1 play. Everyone want to see the No. 1 play in every tournament. Well, is a pity to miss some of the best players in the world. That's all I can say. That's all I can say.

Q. This isn't a surface where historically there's been that much Spanish success before Nadal. How much of an inspiration has that helped having seen someone like Rafa adapt his game on grass? For you personally, given that you haven't played much on grass, what are your expectations this fortnight?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, of course, watching Rafa is, I would say, more for clay courts. Win so many tournaments on grass. Win twice here in Wimbledon. You think that you are able to adapt your game to grass court.

I would say I have a game is going to adapt well on grass, trying to go to the net, playing aggressive. I would say I'm able to play well on grass.

Well, I already say I couldn't prepare well for Wimbledon this year, but I always come to every tournament thinking that I'm able to do a good results or even able to win the tournament.

Q. This is the hundredth anniversary of Centre Court. What is your impression of what Centre Court means to the history and the special character of the sport?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I said the Wimbledon is one of the most beautiful tournaments in the world for me. The Centre Court is amazing for me. Of course, has been great matches, historic matches, in this court.

Well, I remember to watch a lot of matches in the Centre Court since at the beginning of everything, since I was a kid. And, yeah, for me it means a lot to be able to play in this tournament.

Well, I will try to pass rounds to be able to play in the Centre Court.

Q. Over the years Wimbledon seems to have liked nothing better than youngsters doing well, whether it's Sharapova, Boris Becker, Coco Gauff a few years ago. Do you feel the support when you are around the place at the moment? Do you hope the crowds can help lift you as well in the same sort of way?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I would say yes. I think the people wants to the young players grow up faster. For me, in every tournament that I went, the people support me a lot. I felt the warm of the people.

Of course, it helps you a lot to feel the crowd behind you supporting you. Is pretty good for me. And I hope this year in Wimbledon they do the same for me.

Q. I'd like to know if when you see a draw, do you see the whole draw? Do you just look at the first opponent? Players sometimes say, Yes, I just look the first. It's not always true. I would like to know. Also after Struff, who is already a strong opponent, have you seen somebody else, like Sinner, for instance?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: First of all, I always see the first round, of course. The maximum was until the second round. If I win the first round, I see the opponent of the second round. More than this, I'm not very often to watch the whole draw.

Q. Sinner?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I don't know how to say about it (smiling).

Q. You've made a lot of very quick movements up the rankings. Youngest guy in a long time to be in the top 10. I'm wondering how important to you are the rankings? How much do you pay attention to that? Do you use that as sort of a way of seeing how well you're doing or maybe they don't mean anything at all to you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, of course, to grow up in the ranking, to be top 10 for me, it's amazing. I see the rankings and I train for, I mean, reach more places in the ranking.

But for me right now it's not the most important thing. Just is still getting experience in every surface in every tournament. Right now I'm very focused on the Grand Slams, as well.

The ranking for me right now is, like, secondary. I'm trying not to think too much about the ranking right now.