THE MODERATOR: Carlitos, welcome back to Melbourne. How special was this week, this opening week, especially since you had to miss last year with injury?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it was special. Honestly, I had the two matches, and it was really, really good matches for me, a good preparation. Obviously seeing the almost full Rod Laver, it was special. Yeah, I missed last year. Finally I showed up here and really excited about the tournament.
Yeah, I think I'm having a great week this week.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Was it hard not to play and not to sign up for a tournament before? We all know how much you like to compete. Can you talk us through that decision not to play in a tournament before this one.
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, we end the season so, so late. I prefer to have a holiday, have my days to recover my body, my mind as well. Obviously I prefer to do a really good pre-season. I think we discussed with my team, as well, that we need almost four, five weeks of pre-season to prepare well this season, for the first Grand Slam of the year. We have no time if I wanted to play a tournament before the Australian Open. At the end we preferred to come here to Australian Open, straight to a Grand Slam.
Yeah, I think I'm a guy who doesn't need so much competition before a big tournament. Obviously always help. I think I'm prepared to do a good things here in the Grand Slam.
Q. Players like you and Holger Rune from Denmark are portrayed as the new generation of tennis. You've edged him out in terms of Grand Slam wins. What's your explanation for that?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: I don't know. I mean, Holger is the same age as me. Sinner just two years older, so we are setting a good generation. As you say, we are the next generation. I don't know why I won two Grand Slam and they don't. I don't know. I mean, they are in a good spot to win the Grand Slam, to win great things, big tournaments.
I don't know how to explain it.
Q. We spoke to you last in Torino. You were very enthusiastic about this year. The year has begun. You're here. How does 2024 look to you from the present?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, yeah, I'm still exciting about this year. I hope it's going to be as good as the 2023 (smiling).
Yeah, prepared really, really well at the start. We are going to start with this tournament. I think I did a good preparation coming to this year.
I think right now we have to improve with the things that I didn't do well last year, for example, and try to be better with my team and myself obviously.
I think this year, it's going to be a good one (smiling).
Q. Specifically what?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: I mean, on the court, off the court. I think everybody can be better. Everybody can improve their things. I'm not perfect, so I have to improve a lot of things on the court and off the court, as well.
Q. What do you think will be maybe the hardest part of not having Juan Carlos here? Will it be off court or on court during your matches? Is this maybe an opportunity to get to learn to play a bit more without him on the sidelines?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it's tough not being with him. Obviously he travel almost 100% of the tournaments. Probably he miss just one or two last year. It's going to be difficult to approach a big tournament without him.
I have Sam with me that is a great coach as well. He was coach of Juan Carlos when he was playing. I trust him. I believe in him. Juan Carlos, as well.
I mean, I think I can learn a lot from him, as well. Let's see how is going to be. As I said, I trust him 100%.
Q. You played Alex de Minaur a couple of days ago. What do you think of him as a player? How far do you think he can go?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: He's really, really good player. I mean, he's in a really good shape. He has beaten Novak few weeks ago. He has beaten big guys in the United Cup. I think he's coming to Australian Open with a lot of confidence. I think he's a player to look in this tournament. I think he's going to reach final rounds.
Obviously he's playing at home, so I think that is extra motivation for him. I think he's going to do great here.
Q. I know it's a long way to go, but this is Novak's court. Almost nobody beats him here. Does that give you more motivation or does it make you more comfortable, if you get the opportunity?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Yeah, I mean, it's an extra motivation for me. I'm an ambitious guy. I always want to play against the best players in the world to see what is my level. Obviously it's a good test, playing against him in the places or in the tournament that he's almost unbeaten.
Yeah, I looking for reaching the final and hopefully playing a final against him. It would be great obviously. But, yeah, knowing those stats, it's an extra motivation, for sure.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports