QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

February 19, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/L. Nardi

6-1, 4-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It's been like a wonderful start during the match, and then the second. Can you just explain the difference between the two first sets.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, it started real well the match, playing really good tennis. I was kind of controlling the match pretty well until 4-1. I had chances at 40-All. I think he played a few good points at that time. He started playing really well, so I had to give credit to him as well.

Probably I feel like my energy level got down a little bit, but his level was really impressive. From 4-1 to the end of the second set I feel like he was playing a top-10 level, so it was really impressive.

I'm just really happy to stay strong mentally and forget everything and start again in the third set. I tried to get back my good energy level, and started to play good tennis, just really happy to get through again.

Q. At the latter part of the second set I felt Nardi was trying to find new solutions, like dropshotting, moonballing. Do you think these tactics a little bit broke the rhythm for you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Not really. He just took his chances. I mean, from that point of the match, from the 4-1, he doesn't miss any ball. He was really aggressive, he played really well, so for me it was really difficult to play.

The second break that I got in the second set, 4-All, I play with first serve over 200, and his return was amazing. I mean, nothing to say. But, yeah, I feel like he started to play a few more dropshots a bit, yeah, moonballing. But it didn't, you know, I didn't lose the focus because of that, it's just he started to play more aggressively without mistakes, so just credit to him.

Q. I know that you and Luca, you know each other from a long time. I saw the photo when you were young. What do you think he's still missing to stay at the very high level? Because he plays very, he can play very good, but sometimes he's not so focused maybe, I don't know. You know him when you were kids, so...

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I would have to say that for me one of the most difficult things on tennis is to keep the focus, to keep high level during the whole match, to maintain the good level two, three hours in a row. For me it is the most difficult thing of tennis.

We could see today, today's match. He played unbelievable in the second set, and then probably he started to miss a little bit, he couldn't maintain that level in the third set.

I would have to say, since we were kids that was his weakness, just to maintain the good level. I'm pretty sure he's going to get it, and I'm pretty sure he's going to be there. So I'm just really happy to have played my first ATP Tour match against him. I'm really sure that we're going to play many more in the future. But, yeah, I'm going to say, if he can maintain the really good tennis during two, three hours, he's going to be one of the most dangerous players.

Q. Today you came very early to the press conference, which is not usual. Is that because you want to see the Real Madrid match today? Are you going to watch the match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, (laughing) yeah, I'm going to watch it, for sure. No, that wasn't the main reason. The main reason is just to have more time to recover, to have more time just for myself. Yeah, Real Madrid, to watch that match, it was one of the reasons, not the main one, but one of the reasons.

Q. You mentioned the fact that it's really hard to stay focused during the match, Daniil Medvedev said kind of same thing two days ago. Can you tell us how difficult it is, and if it costs you many energy during the match to stay focused and not to be, in a way, a spectator of your own game?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Say it again.

Q. Can you explain us how difficult it is to stay focused and if it cost you many, many energy during the match.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, in tennis we play a lot of points, you know, in a match. To maintain the hundred percent focus in every point is really difficult. I mean, the less points you miss or you lose the focus, it's much better. But, you know, tennis can change in just two, three points. Probably you're playing such a good tennis, and you are controlling the match pretty well, but after two or three points, you know, the opponent started to feel much better, his energy just got up a lot, and the match completely can change. So that's why it's really difficult. I mean, two hours or two hours and a half, three hours in a match, playing the same points at the same level of focus is really difficult.

There are a lot of factors, you know, you're playing against someone else, the conditions, everything play a role in the match. You have to control everything, and a part of that is to keep your focus, so that's why it's really difficult.

Q. Being consistent is one of the most important things and difficult thing in tennis. So when you were juniors, or as a kid, do you try to, you know, train your mentality or how to focus for the long time throughout the longer matches?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I mean, to maintain the good focus the whole match was one of the most difficult things for me when I was a kid. I could play really good tennis two, three games, and then I lose my focus, two, three games. So I was like that, you know, up and down during the whole match.

So I just try to be better on that, you know, in the practices. If we practice two hours, two hours and a half, just to maintain that level of focus, or that energy level, you know, during the whole practices. If you do it every day, then the match is going to be easier for you. So that's what I try in every match since I was 14, 15 years old. I'm still trying to improve it, but I'm really happy to be able to maintain the good focus almost the whole match. That, for me, it was a really important weapon that I'm trying to use in every match.

Q. You're facing Jiri Lehecka next, and you've only played him once a couple of years ago on grass. I know you practiced with him recently, just wondered your thoughts on that matchup and how you think his game looks at the moment.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, Jiri is a really difficult, difficult player. I mean, he's very dangerous. I was warming up with him a few days ago, and I practiced with him in Rotterdam as well, he's really dangerous. His shots are really dangerous. He hits bombs in every serve, forehand, backhand. So I have to be really focused, I have to be in a good state physically, mentally, just to stay there all the time. I will try to take the opportunities that he's going to give me in the match, if he give me, and that's it. So let's see tomorrow, but it's going to be a really difficult match.