US OPEN

September 4, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/W. Yibing

6-3, 6-4, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Carlos, congratulations. Three sets, another win.

Questions in English.

Q. You said on court after the match that you're surprised at how things are going after three matches. What are the biggest surprises for you after your expectations coming into the tournament?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, you know, obviously after four months without competing, without any matches, you know, when you go out there and compete and play an official match with the nerves and everything, so after the match, the day after or right after, you could feel, like, really tight. Your body can feel really tight.

It didn't happen to me, so I could, you know, feeling better and better after every match. It feels like, you know, I been competing the whole time. So it surprise myself the way that I'm feeling and the way that I'm recovering after every match.

So I'm just really happy about it that I'm able to perform at my best after every match. Doesn't matter if I'm playing four or three sets.

So I'm just really happy about it. You know, because my expectation coming here was about, Okay, let's see how it's gonna be. So I wasn't sure at all. Just happy with the things or I'm happy with everything that is going right now.

Q. Would you like to have harder matches, or are you good with having matches where everything happens pretty quickly?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: If I'm happy to play three-setters, or...

Q. Yeah, three-setters and...

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Like, quick matches, right? Yeah, I like to not spend too much time on court (smiling). So I think everybody wants that. Everybody wants to perform at their best.

And, you know, as less time as you spend on the court, much better for the next round. So I just like everything, you know, in the matches.

Q. Since you finished early, are you going to watch your mixed doubles partner tonight? Are you curious to see how they do?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Absolutely. I mean, I'm gonna get ready. I'm gonna be, you know, at the room. I'll be getting treatment with the physio. So I think there is no better plan, you know, to watch the doubles, the Williamses, once again, while getting a treatment. I'm going to be ready for that.

Q. You did the bow-and-arrow celebration again. I know that it was your brother's idea, but was there a reason behind why they chose this celebration for you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, no, not really. There wasn't any reason behind that celebration. They made me to choose to do the arrow or dancing, so I didn't have any doubts about choosing, you know, the arrow.

So I will ask them what's next if I win the next round, but right now it's...

Q. "Flow state" is one of the terms we hear nowadays about being in a zone, being at your best. I wonder, what does it feel like when you're in your flow state on the court?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Sorry, say again?

Q. The word "flow state," have you heard that expression?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, sorry.

Q. We talk about flow state nowadays, it's kind of a buzzword, but it's kind of like when you're in the zone and things are coming easy. I wonder what that feels like for you.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I mean, being on zone, or what do you mean exactly? So sorry.

Q. When you're on the court and you're in a zone and things are feeling like they're coming easy to you, what does that feel like for you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, to be honest, I'm not feeling that way, to be honest, because, for example, today, the scores can says it was pretty easy, but for me and the way that I felt on the court, it was really tough and really demanding physically in terms of tennis-wise.

So it was really difficult. I'm not thinking about everything is coming easy or I'm just feeling, you know, that the things are going pretty easy for me. I'm feeling like every point, every game, I had to earn it.

And I think it is a way to maintain myself, you know, with the feet on the ground and thinking point after point and trying to do my best in every situation of the match.

So that's what I'm thinking every time. I'm not feeling like everything is coming easy.

Q. You changed your outfit today. How did you decide to wear a second shirt, also.

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think I saw my nipple too much lately. (Laughter.) I felt like, you know, I could hide it for at least once match.

Q. Do you feel they might come back?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: I don't know. I don't think so. I feel really comfortable, you know, with another shirt. So I think I'm gonna stay like that.

Q. Was it your decision or did Nike want you to cover the nipple up?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, it was my decision. It was my decision. I wouldn't mind if I had to play again like that, but if we could do something about it, I think was good.

Q. Was it distracting you during the match before?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Not really. Maybe, you know, the second round was, yeah, a little bit distracting for me, but not that much.

Q. The other day you're talking about wanting to take breaks during the season, to be more healthy. After the injury, when you and your team were looking back at why it happened, what were the lessons you took from it? Was it just like you were playing too much, the load was too much?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: No, I mean, no, this injury didn't come because I played too much. I mean, it is what it is, and, you know, there are some injuries that it is bad luck at all.

You know, I'm kind of a guy that doesn't need to play a lot of tournaments. So I just prefer to be, like, mentally healthy and physically healthy to approach, you know, than the tournaments and getting the feeling of the competition and going to the tournament, you know, whatever it is.

I just feel like you can have, you know, those moments of time to have a break, to prepare well tournaments, to prepare well mentally.

You know, you don't have that time, that period, that breaks to perform at your best, you know, in the tournaments. It is like or is a tournament after tournament after tournament, and you don't feel like you are well-prepared coming to some tournaments.

So that's why I just decided to, that probably in the future I'm gonna take breaks because I want to feel well prepared coming to Grand Slam, Masters 1000, whatever it is.

I just want to step on the court, have joy, have fun on the court, because sometimes playing such a long season or playing a lot of tournaments week after week, I feel like I'm not playing with joy, I don't have fun on the court. I just want to miss the tennis sometimes, miss the tours, miss you guys.

That's why I just want to have long breaks, because it's impossible to last the whole season playing every tournament.

Q. You have Tommy Paul next on Sunday. You guys have played eight times. You've gotten the better of him most of the time, but some of the matches have been close. Can you tell us a little bit about what kind of battle you expect with him and what makes him challenging to play?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, he's a really talented player, really difficult one to play. I think he's really dangerous for everyone on the tour. The way he plays, the way he hits the ball, it's really complicated to dominate the ball, dominate the points. His ball is (indiscernible) a lot. It's kind of difficult to play against him.

I'm excited. I'm really looking forward to playing him once again. Great battles. He's such a nice guy. We just feel like we having fun, we pull off great points, great shots. It's going to be really fun to watch, fun to play, as well.

I will be ready, for sure, and I gotta be at my 100% if I want to get through.