"Players like Korda and Ruud are still far ahead of us": Ahead on the court but not the course as Carlos Alcaraz aims to make headway in inter ATP golf battle

Carlos Alcaraz believes he produced a “really, really high level of tennis” after powering into the quarter-finals of BNP Paribas Open with a straight-sets victory over Rinky Hijikata.

The Spaniard advanced 6–1, 7–6 in the California desert, delivering a dominant opening set before holding his nerve in a tighter second to continue his strong run at Indian Wells. Speaking to Tennis Channel after the match, Alcaraz reflected on his performance, life off the court and the challenge that awaits in the last eight.

Alcaraz was close to flawless early on, racing through the first set against Hijikata and leaving little room for his opponent to settle.

Despite the commanding display, the Spaniard remained his usual self-critical self when asked whether it represented his very best level. “I don’t know,” Alcaraz said. “But I would say it was a really, really high level of tennis.

“I’ve got to be honest with myself. If I can be better, I don’t know. You always say that perfection doesn’t exist, so you can always improve. But if I play the next round at the same level as the first set, I wouldn’t complain at all.”

The 21-year-old also reflected on a remarkable start to the year, which included defeating Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open to complete the career Grand Slam.

Alcaraz described the achievement as something he is still processing amid the relentless pace of the tour. “Well, as I say, it’s like a dream come true,” he explained.

“I’m still waiting to get the kangaroo tattoo, just in case, so when I see the tattoo I won’t forget that moment.

“But tennis sometimes is a sport where you don’t have too much time to think about everything you’ve done. You have to keep going, keep improving and keep your mind on the next tournament. Overall, I’m just really happy with the start of the year. I achieved the career Grand Slam, getting my first Australian Open. Every time I think about it, it feels like a dream come true.”

Away from tennis, Alcaraz has also been making the most of the famous golf courses around Indian Wells.

He revealed he recently played alongside Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, while also trying to improve his own game.

“It’s getting better,” he said. “I’m putting a lot of work into it. Even the first day we arrived, with the jet lag, I woke up really early and went to the range to hit some balls. As Zverev said, we have a similar level right now, but players like Sebastian Korda and Casper Ruud are still far ahead of us. I really want to catch them.”

Alcaraz also recently teamed up with Bryson DeChambeau for a YouTube challenge attempting to “break 50”, something he admitted ended in failure despite the fun experience. “I made the most of the time with him asking for tips—how to play, how to do the swing, how to do everything on the golf course,” he said.

“He’s such a nice guy and helped me a lot. We couldn’t break 50 though. Sorry to anyone who hasn’t seen the video yet for the spoiler! But we had so much fun.”

While Indian Wells’ slower hard courts have often suited Alcaraz’s game, he insists his success there comes down more to how comfortable he feels off the court.

“I just feel really comfortable here,” he said. “Maybe this year the court is a little bit faster. But for me it doesn’t matter what kind of hard court it is. It’s more about how comfortable and how good I feel off the court.

“I’m here with my team and my close people, just chilling in the house. It feels like home. That’s why I’m playing such great tennis here.”

Next up for Alcaraz is a quarter-final meeting with Cameron Norrie, a player who has historically thrived in Indian Wells and lifted the title in 2021.

The Spaniard expects another tough battle. “It’s always a challenge playing a lefty,” Alcaraz said. “We’ve had great battles and the last one I lost, so I’m going to be ready to take the challenge and try to get revenge.

“I know he loves playing here as well. He won here once and has made a lot of deep runs, so that shows how comfortable he feels here. It’s going to be an interesting one — fun to play and fun to watch. I’m really looking forward to it.”