QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

February 21, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/A. Fils

6-2, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Carlos, an incredible week here. How does it feel now holding the trophy?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it feels great. It feels like the job is finished right now, which is great. It was a great week, on and off the court. Seeing myself accomplish all the goals that I set up for myself at the beginning of the week, it makes me really proud of myself and about my team. Yeah, lifting the trophy in Doha for the first time, it feels amazing.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Perfect match. What do you think made the difference? Arthur just said that there is still a gap between him and your level. What's your opinion on that?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I just played great today. I think I just was really focused on that. I was really focused at the beginning of the match to play such great tennis. I think the finals is where you have to show your best level.

Obviously I think Arthur started the match a little bit, you know, I'm not saying not that good, making a lot of mistakes. That gave me the confidence to play relaxed and to play calm. I think he let me dominate the game, dominate every point. I was always in a good position every time.

As I said, I played really solid, aggressively when I could, passing when I had to. I think that mix of both sides, it makes me play really good tennis. Arthur started to play, let's say, again, since for four months ago. He played a couple of tournaments, he made the final here, and beating great guys here in Doha. I'm pretty sure he's going to get the level to be in the top.

Q. I've never seen a final 500 ATP won in 50 minutes, losing three games, and only six points on your serve. Have you ever played better than this? Of course, Fils maybe was a bit tired of last night, it can happen. Every match is different, but you were, in my opinion, absolutely unbelievable. I would like to know if you believe it to yourself.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, yeah, I played great. I played amazing. As you said, every match is different, every match has their styles. I know he's not too far from his real Arthur level. I know in this tournament he has done it, also in the battles we played before. He did a lot of his mistakes today.

For me, I just tried to be focused on myself. I think I played really aggressively, and I didn't do any mistakes at all. I was serving well, returning well. Yeah, I think it was a final, and I had to give my hundred percent, so just happy that I was able to do it. Yeah, just proud. I'm going to put it top-10 matches or top-15 matches, just in terms of level.

Q. Such a great match. Seven grand slams. You won here in Doha. Undefeated this year. Only 22 years old. For you, how would you define success onward on your career so far? How do you see it now?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I think for me success, it's more than lifting trophies. I would say, for me, success is about how you feel and how you see yourself. I think I'm just really proud, and just I already have success, because I learn about every match. On and off the court, I'm learning about everything, and every experience that I'm having in my life.

As you can see, I'm a totally different person and player than back in 2022 that I got the No. 1 spot in my first Grand Slam. So I'm just trying to grow up as a person, as a player, and getting mature and seeing myself in a position that I just really like to be. I think for me that's the real success. That's why I'm just really proud and enjoying every time that I step on the court. That's what I define success so far in my career.

Q. At the beginning of the week you were asked how you were going to improve, or what improvements you can make after going 6-0 winning the Australian Open. Now that you're 12-0 and won two tournaments, is there any room for improvement?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Always. Always. There is always room for improvements. There's always room for weaknesses. As I said, I don't know if it was at the beginning of the tournament or after the first match, that I can see myself with weaknesses. I'm just trying to improve in the practices, just trying to be better on the matches.

As I said, I set up some goals on this tournament, and I just did it perfectly. I'm just really proud and happy about it. It's time to keep improving, to keep going farther, going in the right direction. 12-0 so far, and just want to keep it going.

Q. I have the feeling that you feel happy to play here in Doha. I would like to know if it's the right feeling that you are very happy to stay on court. And have you have set any goal for this season? Because Jannik last night said that his main goal is the Roland Garros. So you got that last year, so...

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I mean, I'm trying not to think about anything else but myself. And what I feel right now, it's like I love playing tennis, and I love competing. It is time to enjoy every time that I am able to play and step on the court. So we sometimes we just keep going over ourselves, and we don't stop and think about everything.

So probably, and I've been injured, and in that time that you are out of the competition, you're missing it, and you realize how beautiful it, is the competition and the tennis. So once I'm able to do it, it's time to stop thinking about it, and think how beautiful and how lucky am I to step on court. So that's why I'm enjoying every time that I compete and that I step on the court. That's why you can see myself really happy, even if I'm losing, or even if I lose a point or whatever.

Obviously, talking about goals, you know, it's the biggest tournaments in the world, the Masters 1000s, the Grand Slams. The next one is Roland Garros. That's a tournament that I just have great memories and great experience in that tournament, really looking forward to playing there, to being good there. Before that I have a lot of special tournaments ahead that I just really want to be prepared for.

Q. Before they asked you about the hardest part about being a tennis professional. On a more positive note, I want to ask you about the best part about being a tennis professional. Is it simply the money or the fame, or is it because you're doing something that you're really passionate about every single day?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I would say it's a mix of everything, I'm not going to lie. I think, let's say, it's about the love of the sport, the love of what you're doing. Obviously it's my job, I get paid of playing, of going to the tournaments, winning. But I think there is no better feeling of doing whatever you love. I think that's what I feel. Obviously, the fame comes with it, the money comes with it, but for me the most important thing is that I'm just living the life that I just love.