THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/O. Tarvet

6-1, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Carlos, good win out there. Give us your thoughts on the match.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, it was a great win, important win. Yeah, it doesn't matter that he was 700 in the world. I was impressed with his level. I think he played a really good match.

As I said, it was a really important win just to keep giving confident for myself and just really proud about the level that I played today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You talked about jokingly being a serve bot at Queen's. Had you spoken to actual serve bots, like Reilly Opelka? Did they have something about going after their term?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I didn't talk with him here, but I saw he left a comment. I didn't remember right now, but it was in a post on Instagram that John Isner and myself was the same person (smiling). It was funny, actually.

But I think here in Wimbledon, I'm struggling a little bit with the serve. I'm feeling really different between Queen's and here with the balls, with the speed. So I'm struggling a little bit.

But I'm just getting more confident. I think today was pretty much better, and let's see. But yeah, it was funny (smiling).

Q. Can I just ask you, what did you say to Oliver after today's match? How far do you think he can go in the future?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I told him just congratulations for the run, just keep it going, keep working hard. It seems like he's a really nice guy and really nice, hard worker. It seems like he loves tennis. He played with such a good passion out there that is really important.

How far he can go, I don't know. As far as I know, he's in college. Let's see what he's going to choose. If he chooses still in college, the level that we can see in college is pretty high. I hear that there's 26 players right now that have been in college or is in college right now. I think the level is pretty high.

Let's see, if he keep working hard, if he keep practicing hard and playing in professional level, I think he can go far.

Q. Have you paid much attention to the amount of top seeds that have gone out in these past few days? Does that give you confidence for the road ahead? Or maybe from the other angle, put pressure on you sort of with the amount of competition that the field has outside of the top seeds?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I paid attention on that. I hear it is the most seeded was out of the tournament in the first round. So it's kind of shocking.

In that way, I just try to be more focused, even more focused on the tournament. In the first round I had one feet out playing fifth set in the first round. Let's see how is going to be the tournament.

For me, as I said, I am trying to be even more focused on the match because, as we can see, every match is different, every match is a really tough, tough match. Everything can happen in tennis, even in the first round.

I'm glad that I just won two matches already. Just trying to keep it going.

Q. Are you happy with your level? How much do you think you need to improve?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I just really happy that I show myself a little bit better than the first round. A few things that I really want to be better and feel better, but in general, I just feel really, really well on court today.

As I say, yeah, tomorrow I'm going to practice a little bit, trying to improve the thing that didn't work today. Step by step, feeling better.

Q. On the serve, you said you felt like you've been struggling a little bit. I remember at Queen's after the Munar match, you said that the serve was a huge focus in practice. Suddenly, after that, it was hugely improved in your matches. Will that be a focus for you now ahead of your next match, just like at Queen's?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I think the serve for me is the main thing right now. As I said, on grass the serve is probably the most important shot. I'm trying to be better, yeah. After the first round, I left the court not happy at all with the performance with the serve. Today I felt a bit better.

But a lot can't improve without the serve. So tomorrow I'm going to pay much attention on the serve. Let's see if in the third round I'll be better.

But yeah, going back a little bit to Queen's, after Munar match, I just started to serve unbelievable. I hope that here in Wimbledon is going to be the same.

Q. Lots of the spectators here were chanting for Ollie. Can you explain how it feels playing against a British player with so much support behind them?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: It's different. So far I'm just grateful for the support I'm receiving in Wimbledon. The previous year in the first round, as well.

Yeah, I never played against a British player. Today was the first one. Just different. As I say on court, it was a great atmosphere, as always. I just have to say thank you for the crowd that they was really respectful for me, for the opponent, for the matches.

Yeah, it was a different experience that I'm glad to have experienced something like that, as well.

Q. A lot of players are talking about their difficulties with mental health, specifically Zverev last night was talking about he's feeling very alone. You, in contrast, we know you to be super joyful and happy. How do you keep your joy, and how important is that to you to be able to perform at your best? Is there ever a dip in your joy?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I've been feeling down a lot of times on the tennis court or on the tournaments. I'm just really happy to have found the right path again with such a good joy on the court.

As I said, for me it is not about winning or losing, or I'm trying not to be focused on the winning and the losing. It's just about to have fun playing tennis, have fun stepping on the court and not thinking about the result. It's just live in the moment.

Here at Wimbledon for me is a gift. Every match that I'm playing is a gift. I'm trying to make the most of it, trying to enjoy as much as I can. Sometimes it's really difficult, I know. And I accept it.

Just playing for myself, just playing for my team, for my family. Not thinking about anything else, but just being happy on the court. For me, it works pretty well.

I'm just seeing a lot of players talking about the mental health. As I said, I found what works pretty well for me. I'm just trying to following it.

Q. I don't know how much you know about Ollie's situation with his restrictions in terms of how much winnings he can claim back. He has to take it down with expenses to 10 grand or something like that. As a player, do you think that's fair?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I don't know if it is fair or not. As I said, as far as I know, he's still in college. There are some rules about playing college and then in the professional part of not receiving more than 10 grand when you are in college.

So that's what he has to choose now. I know that it's really difficult decisions. If he's still in college or he going professionally right now, both choices are pretty good.

I don't know. If there are those rules, it is because it's for something. He has to obey that rules. Let's see.

But yeah, both choices are really, really good for him. Let's see how it's going to be in the future for him.