US OPEN

August 23, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

An interview with:

CARLOS ALCARAZ

THE MODERATOR: Carlos, just say a few words about your first-round opponent, Opelka. You have never played him in an official match. What do you expect from that first round?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it's going to be really difficult playing Opelka for the first time. We all know his game style. So, I mean, I have to be ready for that, have to be focused on the return, trying to put as much return as I can. And let's see. Trying to get good rhythm in the match, playing good the points from the baselines when he let me do it, and let's see.

The confidence is high right now. Feeling good the court. Feeling good the balls. Just getting ready.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Interested on your thoughts on the mixed doubles, playing with Emma, how you felt you worked as a partnership, and what you made of Emma's doubles game?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it was great. I wish that I had more time just to be ready, you know, for that match. I couldn't sleep that match, I couldn't prepare the mixed tournament as good as I wanted.

But it was fun, to be honest. The people, the energy that was there was great. Almost full, Arthur Ashe. I loved the atmosphere, I loved the support, and I love the format, to be honest.

I just had fun. It was great. Not the result that we wanted. I think we could have been much better if we could have prepared much better. But it was great.

Q. How are you feeling coming to the US Open this year as compared to last year? Everything was so busy last year with the Olympics versus this year coming in. How you're feeling coming into the Open?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it's much different. I have more time just to have my days completely off, just to recharge my mind, my batteries. Then I had two weeks at home practicing, but it was at home.

So for me, it is an extra (indiscernible) that I got having those days at home, and then going to Cincinnati with more happiness, let's say, and really wanting it, hungry to play the tournaments.

As you could see, I was more prepared than last year. Now I'm just feeling much better. So I'm glad that I had those days. Last year it was more or everything was more tight with no days between tournaments.

Q. How would you describe what makes your rivalry with Jannik what it is?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I think the respect we have each other and the good relationship we have off the court. I think it is great.

Obviously I think everybody watch what we can do every time we face against each other on court. We raise the level to the top.

But the relationship we have off the court, I think we are not used to see it at the same times what we have in such a great rivalry on the court.

So I think that make it really special.

Q. Jannik has been so dominant on the hard court slams. How big of an achievement would it be for you to win one of these?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, it could be great things to do. Yeah, I think the last three Grand Slams on hard court, he won it, right, if I'm not wrong. It's been unbelievable the tennis he's bringing on hard courts.

So I just look up to him in some way just to be ready if I have to face him somewhere. So it's gonna be great. I just getting ready for the tournament, just to do a good results. Hopefully, you know, meet him in the final. But yeah, it would be a great results having a good run here.

If I beat him much more... He has a big target, his back (smiling).

Q. From my perspective, your topspin serve, your kick serve, is a key part of your game. How did that shot develop? When you were younger, I imagine there was a time when you were not strong enough to hit that serve. How did you kind of master that shot?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I put so much attention on it when I was really young. We are Spanish, so the kick and the forehand, I think we just grow up doing it. Playing on clay it's a great weapon, that kick and trying to find the forehand as soon as possible.

So it's something that I have been working on since I started to do it. When I was 14 years old, as I say, I put so much attention on it, because I knew since the beginning that there was going to be a really good weapon for my game, and I'm trying to do it as much as I can.

So trying not to let the opponent know what I'm gonna do next. So I think that's a really good things for my game.

Q. You played Laver Cup under Captain Bjorn Borg the last few years. Now you're switching to Yannick Noah. What do you know about him, and what are your expectations of a new captain coming in?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, for me it was a privilege to be in the team, in the Laver Cup, and being captained by Bjorn Borg. It was such a privilege, to be honest, get to know him much more off the court. So it was great.

And now having that change with Yannick Noah, to be honest, I don't know him that much. Obviously I hear what he has done and who is he, obviously.

But I met him last year in the Laver Cup for few days. He's funny. He just told us funny stories when he was playing. So I know it's gonna be really fun week.

So let's see how it's gonna be on court, but I gonna have fun, and it's gonna to be great having those days spending with him off the court, as well.

Q. You spoke during Wimbledon a little bit about playing golf. What do you like about playing golf? How often do you get to play? Do you ever travel with your clubs on tour during the season?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Depends on the tournament. But for example, to this swing I brought my own clubs, to Cincinnati and here in New York.

Every time that I can. Every time that I can I sneak to play some golf (smiling), which I love the atmosphere. I think the atmosphere that we live on the golf course is special. Just nobody else. Just playing with your team or some friends or whoever it is.

You just have your attention, your full attention just to play the best shot possible. Then when you're walking to the next hole, you're just forgetting about everything else, just enjoying the moment and enjoy being with your friends or the environment it is. I just love being like that. That's why I try to play golf as much as I can.