NATIONAL BANK OPEN

August 10, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/H. Hurkacz

3-6, 7-6, 7-6

CARLOS ALCARAZ

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. Congratulation on the win. You were up 5-2 in the third. You lose four straight games. I'm curious your mindset, down 5-6, and how you were able to fight through that to comeback and win the match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I tried to just think -- you know, I try not to think about what happened in that four games. I just believe, you know, in that moment I was going to show my best level that I was showing in the whole third set.

I just tried to become, you know, the first point in the 5-6, it was massively the key. Because if I would have lost that point, probably I have lost the match.

But, you know, I'm really happy, you know, to be able to stay calm, to stay strong mentally in that moment and to be able to get the win with a great tie-breaker in the third set.

Q. A lot has changed for you in the past year. You have won two Grand Slams. You've become the World No. 1. How important has it been to have someone like Juan Carlos Ferrero on your team, the guy who's been through those experiences before?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, he was my mentor. You know, everything that I have done is thanks to him. I learned a lot from him not only in the professional part, even the personal part as well. He's my second father, so he is really important person for me.

I mean, everything that I've, you know, came through, you know, at the beginning, he was experienced in that moment, you know, and I learned about how to deal in a lot of tough moments, you know, and first things about everything.

You know, so I am the person and the player that I am right now thanks to him.

Q. How do you approach the rest of the tournament where a lot of top seed players are eliminated. Do you feel more confidence, more comfortable knowing that the draw is more open for you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I try not to think about that. Just focus on every match.

You know, I mean, you get in a Masters 1000, it doesn't matter if the top seeds are in a draw or not. Every player plays great and every player can beat you.

So I have to be focused on every player that I am going face in every round and not think about all the defeats that are in the draw. You know, I try to think about myself.

Q. Congratulations. You just played a two and a half hour match. What do you do to get ready for a match in less than 24 hours?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I have probably the best physio on tour (smiling). No, I believe in him.

Just, you know, ice bath, physio. You know, eat well and rest well. You know, I have to do as best as I can, you know, everything to be ready in the next round.

But it's tough, you know, to feel 100% in less 20 hours, but I'll do everything that I can to be as best as I can.

Q. Especially in the third set, you were really working the crowd, telling them to get loud. How important was that for you to play your best to get them cheering for you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, having them supporting me, you know, in the tough moment helped me a lot to work on all the problems and try to be better.

You know, as I said a lot of times, I try to make them happy, to make them enjoy, you know, with great rallies, great shots.

And in the moments that I'm not playing well, you know, having their support it was really, really necessary for me. And as I said on court, I'm going to say, without their support, probably I could have lost.

So, you know, a big part of this win is thanks to them.