BNP PARIBAS OPEN

March 7, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/G. Dimitrov

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: First of all, congrats, Carlos. Grigor has been a tough opponent for you in the past. How did you manage to get the victory in straight sets today?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think I played great. The conditions wasn't easy. A lot of wind today.

But I would say just that my game was much better than him playing well, not making so many mistakes. That, I think, help a lot today, which I'm really, really happy just that I was able to do every goal that I set up before the match. So just happy to get it in straight sets.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. On a separate topic, you have had issues with the shot clock. Wondered if you had spoken to the tour or that kind of thing about it, if you were still having issued with it?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, to be honest, I haven't spoke to them. To be honest, nobody came to me to ask me what is my opinion about it.

So it's like, yeah, it's gonna be like that, I would say. I don't want to waste my time, to be honest, because that's have been in other situations that you go to complain or to give your opinion and then nothing change at all, so I don't want to waste my time. They already know my opinion, what's it been like for me.

So let's see if they're gonna change it or not, but I just really want to be focused on other things.

Q. So that there is a bit more kind of discretion?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I think so. We could see there are different umpires. So it's just about with one or two probably, the same guys that just have been problem with a lot of matches.

But there are other umpires that they are flexible about it. I would say if they understand about tennis, they know how to do it. The guys who are really strict and not having that left hand (phonetic), let's say, is because they don't understand tennis at all.

Q. You might be the only person who has ever played tennis and basketball with Jimmy Butler. Has he ever given you any advice about your basketball game, and have you ever given him any advice about his tennis game?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, he didn't watch me playing basketball at all, but I would love to (smiling), just to show up one of his training when he's good again. You know, I just really want him to watch me, how I shoot or how I play basketball, and then receive a little bit of advice from him.

I just tell him a little bit about it. I just watch him few times, but it was just having fun here in the tournaments or after a match, so I just couldn't give him, you know, good advices. But I just really wanted to step on the court and be a coach for him sooner than later.

Q. Curious, how cool was it to play in front of Jimmy Butler today? Did you know he was coming? How much do you guys communicate? Would you call him a friend?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, yeah, he's my guy (smiling). I knew that he was coming. He told me, no, I'm just doing my rehab, like, really close, so I'm going to show up to watch you.

So I just really happy that, you know, everything he's been through with the rehab, with the knee, that he can show up and watch my match and have a little bit of time with him afterwards.

So, for me, I just really appreciate that. I'm not able to see him very often, but he's making that effort to come over, I'm just really happy about it.

Q. I'm working on a story about the use of the body serve for first serve. You use it more than average on tour. Do you find that effective? If so, why?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I mean, I don't know. I would say other players are just talk about winning the point with the serve, and I sometimes trying to play a good serve but not for winning the point, you know, with that ball. It's just thinking about the second ball.

So I think the body serve is something like is really useful, and, you know, for me, just I have been doing like a lot of time already, and it's been a really good weapon and it work out.

I don't know. It's just about seeing after the serve more than the serve.

Q. Who will be your next opponent, but not playing tennis, maybe golf? In Australia you played with Federer. Maybe Mardy Fish or Andy Roddick? Will you have maybe some time to explore golfing here?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I would love to play against them. My level is not that good yet, but I'm getting there. But, you know, I was able to play here with, you know, a few players.

I went to play with Taylor. I went to play with Sascha. We cannot play 18 holes, but having time and then playing some holes with them, it was really, really good.

You know, I still working on my game to play with those guys. I know Mardy Fish or Andy Roddick is playing such great golf. I will be there, and I will challenge them.