NITTO ATP FINALS

November 9, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

Inalpi Arena,Torino

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/A. de Minaur

7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: All these matches are difficult in the ATP Finals. Can you tell us what was the key today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I'm just really, really happy with the level that I play today. First match is never easy. After the match, I realize that this one was my first win in the round-robin the first day (smiling). I'm really happy about it.

Obviously Alex I think in this surface is really dangerous with his speed, his shots, his style. So just really happy to stay there playing good shots, good points, and getting the win in two sets.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You said on court after the match it was hard for you in the past to get at the end of the season very motivated and full of your best level. How did you get there finally this year?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: It's been a process. It was about to realize what I need, especially off the court, to stay motivated, to stay excited about the indoor swing.

The year could be super long, a lot of matches, a lot of tournaments. So at the end of the year you might be tired mentally, physically.

So I think this year I had more time between tournaments. I had more time at home, which for me was great, to prepare myself physically, mentally to be fresh.

Yeah, this tournament is really important. It's a tournament that I really want to do great, yeah, trying to win one day. So thanks to that I come here motivated with a great level.

This year I'm just really proud how I did the things to come here to the end of the year.

Q. I would like to ask you, how do you define how fast is this surface compared to Paris? I had the impression today you needed to hit super strong the ball in order to hit a point. Is it because Alex is a great defender or because the conditions are a little bit slow?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, it's because Alex is super fast (smiling). That's why it makes really difficult playing against Alex because his speed. You have to win the point three, four times every time.

The speed of the court at the beginning of the week was quite good. A little bit faster than Paris. But after every day, I think after every practice, a lot of practices, points... On the center court, I think as much as you use the center court, the faster it gets.

I found it today faster, much faster than Paris, which I had to adapt myself, I had to get used to it. To be honest, I think I like it.

It's quite surprising how can it change in just one week, the speed of the court.

Q. Talking about Alex and how fast he is, he's such a fighter, you've got a 5-nil record against him now. Jannik has a 12-nil record against him. What makes the difference for somebody like him when he comes up against the two of you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, I think taking the opportunities that we could bring him in the match. I mean, his style is I would say more defending, trying to make the most of the speed of the rallies or the speed of the ball that we hitting to him.

I would say, and I think he is starting to do it a bit more, that's why I have to be really focused, he's trying to play more aggressively sometimes. Yeah, a lot of time he's making it and sometimes he's probably missing a little bit more. I think he's getting there. I would say that could be the difference.

To be honest, I don't know. I mean, probably his coach knows much better than me (smiling).

Q. What is the difference to have in your group a player with such an experience like Novak Djokovic and having instead somebody like Lorenzo Musetti that you beat six times out of seven and you haven't lost to him since 2022 in Hamburg?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, obviously someone like Novak being in the group is always tough. The experience he has in this tournament, the level he has on indoor court, it's quite good. I lost to him in 2023, and I played great. He killed me (smiling).

To be honest, I prefer Lorenzo. I'm not going to lie (laughter).

If he's there, he deserves it because of the level he has put on the matches, the tournaments he has done this year, and the level he showed this year. It was really, really high. Let's see how he's going to be, how he's going to adapt. He's coming from Athens, and he couldn't feel the court at all.

But I'm sure he's going to do great and let's see how is going to be.

Q. I have a question from a lot of girls around the world. Your heart has been taken?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Sorry?

Q. Your heart has been taken? Are you free?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, I'm free. I'm free. I'm free (laughter).