THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/F. Fognini

7-5, 6-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Carlos, quite a battle out there. Give us your thoughts on the match.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I knew at the beginning that it was going to be really difficult playing against Fabio. Doesn't matter, I mean, it's his last year, his last tournaments. The talent that Fabio has is immense. In every match he can show his best tennis. I think today he has shown one of his best tennis.

But yes, really proud about getting through and give myself another chance to be better in the next round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you tell us what did you tell him after the match? He said that he was very moved and touched by your words.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, I just told him that I have big respect to him. He's the best. Yeah, I have a big respect to him. Everything that he has done in his career, what he has done today. I love watching him play. I'm just glad to have shared the court once again with him, that I have shared the locker rooms, the tournament with him.

Just amazing. Just have big respect to him.

Q. The incident in the final set with the fan, when you helped with the water, Wimbledon doesn't have a policy where they can close the roof when it's very hot. Do you think that's something they should do?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, because of the sun, of the heat, I think it shouldn't close the roof because we will play in outdoor tournament. So the roof is just because if we can't play in another way.

I think battling the heat, the hot, I think is one of the things that we have to do. Probably the match can't be in a way, in another way, because of the hot. I think we have to deal with it in the best way possible. Obviously for the fan, and even here in London, they are not used to having this weather. Sitting five hours in the stand without moving, the sun hitting, I think could be really difficult to deal with for the spectators.

But we are playing outdoor tournament, so I think that the roof shouldn't be closed because of it.

Q. Could you imagine going through a Grand Slam without a physio and a fitness trainer the way Jannik decided to try to do it here?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, the ATP has good physios that they can take care of the players. A lot of players are traveling without the physio, without the physical fitness coach.

Talking about myself, I've been with them since a long time ago. So right now, I don't see myself traveling without the physio or the fitness coach.

I build a really good relationship between both. Without them, they know my body even better than myself, so for me it would be tough.

Q. I don't know if you've had a chance to look ahead yet, it's a British qualifier called Oliver Tarvet. Have you ever heard of him? What are your thoughts on plans to expand and change Wimbledon in the future?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, first of all, I just hear his name when he got qualified to the main draw. 700 in the world and he's playing the main draw of Wimbledon. He has won his first, I think, tour level match. I think it's impressive. If he's there it's because he deserve to be there.

I've watched a little bit before my match because he was playing before mine. I saw a great tennis on grass, to be honest. I have to be ready. I will try to improve the things that it didn't work today and hopefully be better.

As I say, if he's in the second round, because he deserve it. So I will try to show my best tennis.

To expand Wimbledon in the future, I think it's a good idea. I don't know. To be more courts close by and having the qualifying really close from where we are now, I think it's a great idea.

Q. Is it a thankless task to be playing somebody ranked 733 in the world when you are a two-time Wimbledon champion? It's a bit like Real Madrid playing many divisions below them. They're expected to win 100 times out of 100. Is it difficult to get the mentality right when you're odds-on to win so heavily?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Not at all. Because, as I say, if he's here, he is in the second round, is because he deserve it. He's playing a great tennis.

I don't have to think like I'm going to win easily. I have to have respect to him. Playing or trying to play my best, step on the court thinking that if I don't play my best, I can lose. I've seen him play, and he has a good level. Even though he's not playing professionally or he has played just his first tour level match, it doesn't matter. All those things I have to think that is going to be a really tough match. Is going to be a difficult one that I have to be ready for, and I'm trying to play my best without thinking about ranking and anything else.

I have to have that respect to him, as well.

Q. For the Brits, it's very hot out there. You played in a lot of oppressive heat. Australia, the United States. How did it affect you out there? Did that affect the difficulty of the match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, obviously playing with such a high heat out there is really difficult to deal with sometimes. Even tougher when you're playing long matches, long rallies.

So we're playing in brutal conditions during the season in few places. And yeah, it's really tough to play with that conditions, to be honest.

But, I mean, we are tennis players. I always say it, we have to get used to it in these conditions as soon as possible, try not to affect our game too much. But obviously, physically is difficult. Part of the match you can feel down a little bit because of the sun hitting all the time.

That's why I have my things to take during the match that I trying to push myself a little bit up with my crowd, with my team, as well, thinking that it's going to be like just few moments on the match. I have to be ready for still battling and trying to push myself up.

But in general, is really difficult.

Q. How were the nerves today? You've done this before opening up Centre Court as defending champion. How were the nerves today compared to the last time?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it feels like it was the first time. As I said on court, Wimbledon is different. It doesn't matter that the winning streak that I have right now, that I've been playing great on grass, that I been preparing really well the week before.

Wimbledon is different. I could feel today that I was really nervous at the beginning. Being the first match on Centre Court, it's a huge privilege for me even though that I played last year the first match.

Yeah, it feels the first time. I just try to deal with the nerves the best way possible. And yeah, the first match struggling a little bit with the nerves. But I think it was great. As I say, it is a big honor to start the tournament there in Centre Court.

Q. You had some very tough matches last year with Frances, Tommy Paul, Medvedev. Do you think this is one of your improvements where even if you maybe lose your way, you can now find a way to win?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I'm thinking like I improving that, that I'm getting mature and I know how to deal with some situations. I always say that the champions always find a way.

I really want to see myself in that (indiscernible) of champions. I really want to put myself like a champion that always find a way, find a way to win.

Yeah, I've been playing really, really tough matches the last year, the last year in this tournament. Just really proud that I always find a way. Today I did it, even though Fabio was playing a great tennis.

Just really proud to overcome the problem, to overcome the tough moments, and found my way.