C. ALCARAZ/J. Draper
6-4, 6-4
Q. You said you wanted revenge against Draper. What was the toughest part about this match today?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think today was a really good match. I played great. I'm really proud about the way that I approached the match. I remember Indian Wells was really difficult for me the whole day before the match dealing with the nerves. It was really stressful.
Today I approached the match in a different way, which I'm really proud about. I just tried to show my best tennis since the first point until the last point. I think it works pretty well.
Q. What did you change mentally in terms of your approach to the match?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: I tried not to think that it was a really important match. I was just trying to go there and play, trying to enjoy playing that match, not thinking about the results at all.
I just tried to do the shots in the game that I like playing, that I like to do. Try to smile, have joy on the court. That for me was the most important thing that I was trying to think during the whole match.
Q. Do you think one of the your best match this season, best feeling post match?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Probably. Probably. I think I started pretty well. I end the match pretty well, as well. I lost the focus a little bit in the second set. It wasn't too long. It was pretty good.
But yeah, probably was one of the most complete matches that I played this year.
Q. With the Italian people here, the feeling, how do you feel the fans here?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I think the people here are incredibly good. They have a lot of passion in sports in general. Like once the football, I saw the atmosphere there, it was huge. Here in the tennis, we could see the atmosphere in every court.
I think it is great for the tennis player, for the tennis, for everyone having the Italian people around. I'm just super, super grateful for the support that I'm receiving in every practice, in the matches. I just enjoy playing in front of them. I just hopefully keep it going.
Q. (Question about Roland Garros seeding.)
CARLOS ALCARAZ: I think it's great being second seed in Roland Garros, knowing that I'm going to not see Jannik before the final, if I reach it, I think it's great. It's something that I didn't think about it, honestly. Before coming here, the No. 1, it wasn't a goal. Knowing that, it's a great thing.
Q. Thinking about Roland Garros, Draper could be one opponent for the title in your mind?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, Jack I think, he has shown the level he has. He can win everyone in every tournament. Of course, Jack is No. 5 in the world. He has won one Masters 1000 final, made the final in one of them, as well. He's one of the players who can win the French Open. Any Grand Slam, honestly.
I think right now in tennis we have a bunch of player who are able to win Grand Slams or making good results. I think the draw right now are really, really open, which is good. So Jack Draper I think is one of them.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports