QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

February 19, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/K. Khachanov

6-7, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: First of all, really tough match. How do you feel to get the win at the end?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I feel exhausted, that's for sure. Just happy and proud with the way that I played. I think that I just played a really good level, really consistent good level during the whole match. I think he had started to play well, and was playing such great points and such great tennis when it matters. It was a tough one, pretty close one, but just really happy that I got it at the end.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You lost the first set. But then you go to play the second and the third set, you served nine times, nine games, and you lost only nine points. He never reach 40. He never got deuce. No break points. Nothing. When you are on court, do you realize that, or you understand that you're winning very easily your serves, or you don't care because you're already concentrating on the next point?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, to be honest, I didn't know that stat. When you are in the match, it's just about going point after point. Then, when you just win your serve game, and then you approaching the next one, you don't think about the other one. You're just trying to be focused on doing the right things and, you know, serve, you know, good times in that game.

So I'm not thinking about how many points I lost, if I'm serving well, if I'm not. I'm just thinking about, all right, which is the right side that I got to serve now, and just focus on that goal from the serve. But it was a really good weapon, and I realize that I didn't get too many break points in the whole match.

Q. What do you think was maybe the mindset shift after losing the first set, the tactical adjustments you made to get back into the match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I mean, I didn't change anything at all in the mindset. I had a few break points in the first set that I didn't make it. I had one set point. I just knew that I was going to have my chances.

To be honest, at the beginning of the match I was really tired physically, so I just was trying to approach the match in a good way mentally, just trying to be positive, trying to be calm. So after the first set, I just tried to keep fighting, trying to get the energy from nowhere, I guess. And I keep running and trying to take the chance he's going to, or he was going to have to beat me in the match, that I knew that I was going to have it. My mindset was just to keep going.

Q. Amazing level today and amazing comeback. I really appreciate that in every single match you give us an incredible amount of highlight reels. Doesn't matter if it's a first round, in a semifinal. Right now, obviously we all know that you're the youngest ever to complete the career Grand Slam. For people, it's easy to say that you're going to win 15 grand slams, 20 grand slams, 30 grand slams. Is that something, the big Grand Slam record, is this your number one priority right now? Are you thinking this far ahead, or are you just going week by week or year by year?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I'm really ambitious. I hate the feeling of losing. So every time that I go into a tournament, into a match, I just want to play my best. I just want to win. I want to win tournaments, lift trophies. That's my mindset.

Obviously when you're playing such an amount of matches in a year, physically it's really demanding, mentally it's really demanding. So my goals are in the biggest tournaments in the world. When I'm not playing them, you know, the rest for me is just trying to set up some goals, and trying to chase them. Doesn't matter if I win or not, it's just about to keep trying in the matches, in the competition. And that's what I'm trying to do in these kind of tournaments, and with the mind in the big ones.

Q. You have played against Khachanov for the sixth time, always winner. And you played against him only twice on hard courts. What was the differences between this game and the others technically?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I don't even remember when it was the last time that I played against him on hard court. I know a lot happens, I would say. But I do remember when I played against him on clay. His style doesn't change that much in the surfaces. I think he just plays with such a great rhythm from the baseline. He changes direction real easily, which I think he likes that. He has a big serve. It's really difficult to find a window on his tennis. That's why he makes it really difficult to play against him.

But just happy every match came to my side. What I just can say is every match is a battle. Every match is really, really difficult against him. I would say it's great to play against him in every match that I play against him.