ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/F. Marozsan

6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Carlitos, well done. Difficult opponent today. You played against him in Rome. What was the difference after you lost the second set today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think today was a really good match for me. I played great. But yeah, in the second set, at the beginning he broke my serve. I think he started to play better and better, and he reached a level that I couldn't handle it.

So it was great level from him. And yeah, just really proud about refresh my mind and I started the third set really, really well and ended up playing really great two last sets.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Losing focus during a best-of-five match, do you feel that when you have lost a bit of focus? Do you have certain strategies to help you regain it?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, honestly, if you're talking about today, I didn't feel like I lost the focus at all. He just played much better.

So I just think today was I maintain my level during the whole match. But in the second set, he reached just much better level than I did.

In general, if I lose the focus in Grand Slams, in matches the best-of-five, much better to refocus your attention, let's say. So you have more time, you have more sets just to be back if you lose your focus a bit.

Q. Now you have won four in a row against Sinner. Do you think it could be a mental advantage in case of final in Roland Garros?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, final is too far away right now to think about. So who knows? Here in the last four matches against him, yeah, it's great having wins against him, but I don't know if in case I'm gonna face him sooner or later, but it's too far away to think about the finals right now.

Q. I want to ask about Victor who came to Paris between matches for you here to cut your hair. Why did you want him to come and how you know him? He's become bit of a celebrity among tennis fans. Curious for your thoughts on him.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Say again the question, please?

Q. Victor, your barber. Why you want him to come to Paris? Also, just how he's become sort of a celebrity and gets a lot of reactions when he shows up on social media?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, he's free. I'm lucky he could come here to Paris, watch a few of my matches. Just talking that he has to bring, you know, the materials to cut my hair that I needed. I think everybody saw my hair, my beard. So I had to do something, about it (smiling).

Just was great. I know people are not used to see myself getting a haircut during the matches, so I think that's why, you know, the people was a little bit surprised, but I think that's something normal.

Q. It might be Richard Gasquet last match here very soon in Roland Garros. He will play against your friend and rival, Jannik Sinner. What does he represent to you? I think he was the guy you played for your first pro title in Croatia.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah.

Q. My question is not really what do you think about Richard Gasquet, it's in 2022, before this final, what was Richard Gasquet for you at this moment of your career?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, yeah, it was my first ATP final. It was against him in 2021 in Numa. Yeah, he's a player that I grew up watching, great player, have huge respect when I see him in the locker or around in the tournament. It's great to see him, probably it could be his last match here in Roland Garros, and I think he already say, you know, probably few tournaments already, or I don't know if it is his last match.

But, I mean, he has defend, you know, tennis really, really well. He's been in the tour for 20 years, 22 years, 23 years now, so it's something crazy. He has played great matches, and I'm gonna say again I grew up watching him play.

So for me it has been great facing him for my first final in the ATP, and obviously has been a great person when I see him around. So I just appreciate everything he has done for us.

Q. I have a question about your practice. We saw the video, you were returning the ball with closed eyes. Can you tell us about that, the progress you made out of that practice. How long have you been doing that?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I do that sometimes. It's about the reaction, you know. We set up the practices what I have to do some days before the tournament began. You know, same way that I gonna practice. In the gym I had to practice the reaction.

You know, that day it was that exercises that, you know, Alberto made me to do it. So it's just about having a good reaction before the tournament began.

Q. I wanted to ask you what you do in the days between your matches. When you're not practicing or when you're not in the courts, do you not think about tennis? Do you make an effort not to think about tennis? How do you go through these days, basically? What happens in the course of the day?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, depends on the match that I have played before. For example, tomorrow, yeah, I'm gonna practice a little bit, 40 minutes, one hour maximum, just to feel the ball, keep feeling the ball well.

I'm trying to make the most of that day to recover, having time for myself, having time to walk around a little bit, see a little bit the city, and do other plans besides tennis.

I think that's help me a lot to focus, you know, than in the tennis. So just recovering, having rest, and trying to, you know, make other plans.