US OPEN

August 29, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/L. Darderi

6-2, 6-4, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Carlos, when you were having your knee looked at, do you have any concerns there? What was the problem that you were feeling with your leg?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it was just, yeah, that game that he broke my serve, on the last point after the serve, the first step, I just feel something in the knee that, I mean, it was bother me.

But, you know, it was after five, six points, you know, it was gone. I was worried after that. That why I ask for the physio, but it was nothing serious, so I just for precaution. After that, I just didn't feel it anymore, and it was good. So it's just about nothing serious.

Q. It's unusual for a player of your stature to be playing Grand Slam tennis at 11:30 in the morning. Normally it's 11:30 at night. What time did you get up? What time are you eating your rice? How does the day shift when you've got such a very early beginning?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, it's something that I'm not used to. It's just the second match that I played, you know, 11:00 or 11:30. The first one was in Rome. This one the second time that I played this time.

So for me I just went to bed at 11:00, 11:15. That for me is really weird, to be honest, which I am really proud about it (smiling). Yeah, I just woke 7:00 in the morning just to be ready to warm up well, feeling awake, and feeling good.

So it was an unusual time for me, but at the same time it's good, because I'm already done with everything. So it's a good time as well.

Q. I wanted to ask there are videos or pictures of you and Jannik at a restaurant together.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah.

Q. Were you there eating together or just coincidentally at the same restaurant at the same time?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, it was a coincidence. It was a coincidence. I'm seeing a lot of people talking about, like, we could have gone, you know, to have lunch or to eat together, but it was just a coincidence.

It is a good restaurant, though. Yeah, we run each other. Just was a coincidence. You know, it couldn't be weird if we go together to have dinner, so probably one day. But, you know, just it was a coincidence.

Q. You play with a smile on your face, and the crowd loved watching you. I just wondered how you feel about the fact that over recent days so much of the focus has been on off-court stuff with players arguing and rows between journalists and players?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Say again. Sorry.

Q. I just wondered how you feel that over the last few days so much of the focus here has been about arguments between players and arguments between journalists and players. You're someone who plays with a smile on your face. How does that make you feel?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, I'm trying to feel as much comfortable as I can, you know, off the court dealing with everything in the best way possible. Then stepping on the court without being worried about anything else. Just about playing. That's what I love.

Yeah, I'm trying to bring joy to the court, playing with such smile, so when nothing concerns me at all. Just about playing. So I'm not thinking about or I'm not paying so much attention about anything else. That's for me and the way that I'm feeling on and off the court.

Q. Another Jannik question. Your match here against him a few years ago was for a lot of people kind of the birth of your rivalry with him. What are your memories from that match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it was a roller coaster, that match. Probably -- not probably. It was one of the best matches that I've played in my career so far. I remember a few things from that match. Saving match point, the shot from the back.

So it was really good highlights. I remember that I run from side to side during the whole match, 5 hours and 15 minutes. The second-longest match that I have ever played. I mean, I remember that the level from that match was really, really high.

I think, as you said, from that match the people have talked about our rivalry, and I think from that match our rivalry had a place in the tennis history. It's just great, and thanks to that match, I grew up a lot. I have to deal with some situations, and sometimes I just think about the match the way that I feel physically and the way that I just manage everything.

So I remember that it was a great one.

Q. I know you said two days ago you were thinking more about last year's US Open compared to the one that you won. You seem extremely dialed in right now. How much are you using last year's Open as a motivator for this year?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I'm just trying not to do the same things as last year. Trying to, you know, improve and do the things much better. Every time that I step on the court, I'm just locked in since the first point until the last one.

Yeah, I'm taking last year as motivation coming into this year, be more hungry, ambitious to do great things here. This is a place that I love playing. The energy is crazy, so I'm just trying to feel the love and the energy from the people much more and playing as much matches as I can. So that motivates me.

Q. Can you say something about your next opponent? I think you played him in Queen's tournament recently.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: It is Arthur, right? Yeah, okay. Just to make sure. No, I mean, my coach told me when Arthur won, Okay, this is your next opponent. I was, This real? So I didn't know and just to make sure.

He's really difficult to play against, really aggressive, big serve, trying to go to the net. So it's going to be really difficult, but as I said, I'm just trying to be focused on myself, that I'm playing great tennis, and I'm feeling really comfortable physically, mentally, and just feeling the ball really well.

I will try to think just about my goals, about myself, and let's see, but it's going to be a really interesting one.

Q. Carlos, how hard have you worked to become better at English, and what are your thoughts about doing these press conferences now versus a few years ago?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, few years ago I just coming here to the press conference sweating (smiling). Like, okay, let's see if I'm going to understand the question. Let's see what I'm going to answer. So right now I just feeling more comfortable.

I know you guys feeling like at home, let's say. So just, yeah, my English have improved a lot. I'm just trying to talk with the players, talking around, just watching series and movies in English helped me a lot to improve my English. Right now I'm just chilling. I'm trying to answer, you know, the best way possible.

Q. Do you have fun doing it?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Most of the time. Most of the time. Sometimes you guys ask tricky questions, but most of the time I'm just enjoying doing it.