Carlos Alcaraz on his performance in Melbourne

Carlos Alcaraz admitted he was not fully satisfied with his performance after advancing to the third round of the Australian Open, but said a conversation with his team helped him see the match more clearly.

Alcaraz defeated Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2 in the second round, with two straight set wins. Despite the scoreline, the top seed said he walked off court feeling critical of his level.

“I didn’t see myself playing that good,” Alcaraz said. “But then talking to my team, I realized that I played better than I thought, which I think is great.”

Alcaraz explained that his perspective often changes once he reviews matches with his coaches, noting that it can be difficult to judge performance accurately while competing.

“I think when you are on court, you cannot see the right thing sometimes,” he said. “You’re stuck in the negative thoughts. When you’re watching the match from outside, everything is more clear.”

He credited Hanfmann for making the match uncomfortable at times, particularly early on.

“He played great shots and didn’t let me feel comfortable,” Alcaraz said. “Those comments with my team after the match help me a lot to see things more clearly for the next round.”

Looking ahead, Alcaraz said one area he wants to improve is his backhand return, which misfired at times against Hanfmann.

“Sometimes it’s the way that I feel it,” he said. “Sometimes it’s about stepping forward or waiting a little farther back. Here in Melbourne every day is breezy, and the wind can make it difficult.”

Alcaraz will next play Corentin Moutet, the No. 32 seed, as he continues his push toward a Career Grand Slam.