US OPEN

August 26, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/R. Opelka

6-4, 7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Carlos, congratulations. Questions, please.

Q. Obviously there is this rivalry going on with Jannik for the No. 1 spot. Do you feel that by winning your first round one day before his first round, you kind of put some pressure on his shoulders?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, I don't think. I don't think I'm putting pressure on his shoulder, to be honest. I mean, I'm pretty sure that he's thinking about it is the first round, trying to win the first round, as much as I did today.

I'm trying not to think about the rank of the number, No. 1 spot. I'm just trying to go as far as I can this tournament, play my best tennis, and let's see how it's going to be at the end of the tournament.

Who plays better in this tournament will decide the No. 1 spot. I don't think I'm putting pressure on him.

Q. You and Rory McIlroy had a nice moment earlier today. I'm curious what you admire about him as a golfer, as an athlete, and as a person.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it was the first time that I met him. It was such an honor. I mean, I just admire him a lot. I'm just a huge fan of golf.

The last day of the Masters I just won Monte Carlo, and in my celebration I was with the phone cheering on him, supporting him. It was an unbelievable experience for me meeting him and had a chance to talk a little bit with him.

You know, as a person, he seems a really good guy, really close person. As an athlete, he has shown what he is capable of doing, his swing, his golf.

It's just amazing to watch his golf. So I just admire him a lot.

Q. I wanted to ask about what happened to your hair. Did you get it cut, or I saw something about your brother cutting it. What was the sort of timeline of your transformation, because you look very different than the last time...

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Quite different I guess, yeah. I mean, it was just I felt like my hair was really long already, and before the tournament I just really wanted to get a haircut.

Suddenly just my brother just -- he misunderstood with the machine. He just cut it. Then, you know, the only way to fix it is just shave it off. It's just what he came, this haircut.

To be honest, it's not that -- it's not that bad, I guess (smiling).

Q. Why was your brother cutting your hair? I know like in Paris you brought Victor to Paris to cut your hair.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, New York is too far away for Victor, so...

Q. There are professional people in New York too.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah. It's just -- okay, I'm not really into the hair at all. So I'm the guy who thinks, okay, the hair grows, and in a few days it's going to be already okay, I guess.

It just happened, and that's it (smiling).

Q. What response have you gotten from other people about your haircut, and does it matter to you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Sorry. Say again.

Q. What have you heard from other people about your haircut, and does it matter what the other people think?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I mean, since I just show the people my haircut, I didn't see anything else in talking about my haircut. Some people like it. Some people don't like it. To be honest, I'm just laughing about the reaction of the people.

It is what it is. So I can't do anything else right now, so I'm just laughing about everything that they are talking about my haircut.

Q. Did it affect your game at all today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I think I was faster if I -- (laughing). No, it was funny when I saw myself on the screen with the haircut. It was, I mean, super white, so it's like weird for me to see myself that white in the hair.

Q. Carlos, just wondering on the tennis if there was any areas of your game you felt particularly good today or any that you think need a little work going into the rest of the tournament? If there are any areas that particularly stood out.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, today was really difficult to get the good rhythm. Opelka is such a tough opponent, big serve. He doesn't let you go on rallies. It was difficult for me to get the good rhythm and the good feeling from the baseline.

So I just tried to return well, playing as long a point as I can and trying to get the good rhythm and the good feeling. So it was a difficult first round, but overall I just really happy with the way that I managed everything that I played today. Good return, good point from the baseline, good serve. So I just wanted to keep it going.

Tomorrow I will try to practice a little bit to get more rhythm. The next round is going to be with more rhythm, playing more point from the baseline. So let's see if I'm going to get there, but right now I'm just really happy with the way that I'm feeling.

Q. Sorry, another hair question. Your hair grows very quickly, right? Is it ever annoying when you have a nice haircut that you really like and then in a couple of days it's gone?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Every time that I get haircut, in two or three days it's gone. Yeah, I feeling angry sometimes, because I just feel like I cannot enjoy my haircut that much time.

I think it is not a bad thing truly. It's just, yeah, in three days you're going to see another hair.

Q. Do you accept Frances' comments about --

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Frances is lying. Frances is lying. No, come on. Yeah, I saw the video. He showed up here saying that it is terrible.

I know he's lying. I know he likes the haircut. He like it. He told me. So no, not hear anything about coming from his mouth.