AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/A. Walton

6-3, 7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Straight into questions for Carlos.

Q. What did you make of tonight? Second set was tight. Coming out of it unscathed.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it was I would say a difficult match for me. In the first set, just one break. Just missed two first serves. I think he was playing really good, really solid. I think he was trying to find the position to attack every time he can.

Then the second set I think he found more spots to be aggressive. I'm playing a good tennis. Just lost the focus a little bit in that game with my serve. It was then more complicated for me.

Overall just happy. To be honest, I was ready for a good battle. At the same time a little bit unexpected for me the level he played. I had to manage myself to be ready for that battle. Just happy with the level of the first match of the season.

Q. What were the things you were happy with tonight and what are the things you think you need to improve?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think I hit the ball well. Could be better for sure. I just happy because I think the things that I had to do, I did it pretty well in terms of myself, behave well, just good mindset all the time. Every time trying to think in positive thoughts all the time. So I think I did it pretty well, which was one of the main goals for me coming into this match.

Then in terms of level, tactics or everything, I know that I have a lot of things to be better in the next round if I want to go further.

Q. Obviously quarterfinals is a great result. Do you have a theory on why you haven't gone deeper at this Grand Slam compared to how you performed at the other majors?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, for me I would say tricky not have gone farther than quarterfinals here in Australia because I feel like I'm playing a good tennis here in Australia. The last two years I've been playing a really good tennis. But in quarterfinal I just lost against Zverev and lost against Djokovic. It's I think unusual players you play against in quarterfinal if you are 1 or 2 in the world.

But it isn't an excuses. I just really want to perform better than I did previous years. So I just feeling this year probably it is one of those years that I will be able to or I will have the chance to go further.