ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 12, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz

Mixed Zone

Z. BERGS/C. Alcaraz

7-5, 7-6

Q. He played a great match. In the second set, you had some chances. Do you find that in common between the match you played in New York with Shelton to the one of today, that maybe in some clutch moments you made more unforced errors than usual. Do you find a reason about that?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, today it wasn't a good match for my side. I didn't play good. I would say it was a really bad level for me, and it was a really good level from him.

I would say, even like that, I think it was a close match. I would say, in few important moments I didn't play my best. I could say there were a few moments that he was lucky as well, that's what I think.

You know, some returns, some shots he hit it with the frame, it went in, and he just went into the point again. He made the most of those moments because after that, I would say, lucky shot, he played a really good point. He played a really good level in some moments.

I would say, I was asking for a lucky toss, you know, in the match in some specific moments, but it didn't come. And I would say tennis, it is what it is. Some moments he made the most of his chances, he took the chances, and that's it.

All I can say right now is, I got to be back home, I got to be ready for next, and I got to be, you know, coach the practice coach once again, and trying to play better in the next tournament.

Q. Novak said the court was way too fast this year. Did you feel the same way, that the court speed was different to what you are used to at the beginning of the season?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: To be honest, I just felt the first round it was really, well, it was fast. Today I didn't feel same way. So, it's weird that in just in two days it can feel that I can feel the court, feel the conditions way different.

Obviously the first round I played with the roof closed. Today I played outdoor. Yeah, I felt different. I felt the first round it was really quick. Today the ball was bigger and it was a little bit slower. I don't know why. It's something weird, and something that they have to look after.

Q. Even if today wasn't your best day, are you still feeling positively about the final few tournaments of the season?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, of course. I mean, I played great tournaments. Obviously taking the positive things from today is really difficult. Right now I didn't take it yet.

So, I will try the next few days to think clearly. Right now, you know, all the negative thoughts comes to my mind and none of the positives. But I think I will take it, you know, the good things about, you know, having the matches.

I can re-watch the matches with my coach, with my team. It's going to be really helpful for the next tournament. But just happy with the way that I'm playing lately, and obviously positive tournaments, the latest ones.

Q. Anything in particular that you are maybe less satisfied about your tennis than usual?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I would say everything. To be honest, I didn't play the way that I wanted to play, a lot of mistakes. I didn't find a good position on the return. For example, I was returning pretty well. Today I didn't find a good one. Obviously credit to him. I would say he serves really, really well.

But, you know, when I got into the rhythm, when I got into the point, I made a lot of mistakes. I wasn't feeling comfortable with the shots. So, I'm really disappointed from today's match, because I didn't find the solution. I would say I just made a lot of unforced errors.

Q. It's a loss today, but for Chinese tennis fans, because Qinwen won the tournament title. I saw you liked her post on Instagram. How happy are you to see that she's coming back? The Chinese tennis female player, Qinwen, she won the China Open last night, and it's a huge day for Chinese tennis. I saw you liked her post and Pere Riba, her coach, his post. How happy do you see she's coming back?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, obviously she's a great player, and she's coached by a Spanish coach Pere that we have a really good relationship with, so I'm really, really happy about the team, about her.

She missed a lot of important tournaments. She fell down into the rankings. She had to play qualifying tournaments. So, the way she's coming back, it's unbelievable. I'm really, really happy about her.

I saw that she is the first Chinese tennis player who won the Chinese Masters there in Beijing. She is doing great things. She's working really, really hard, and I'm just really, really happy about her, and pretty sure it's not going to be the last big tournament she's going to win. So, I just wish her all the best.