Andy Roddick Credits Juan Carlos Ferrero after Carlos Alcaraz’s Australian Open triumph

Carlos Alcaraz wins his first Grand Slam without Juan Carlos Ferrero in his coaching box.

Andy Roddick Credits Juan Carlos Ferrero after Carlos Alcaraz’s Australian Open triumph

Carlos Alcaraz, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Andy Roddick (Image via X/CGTN Sports Scene, Served)

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Andy Roddick has noted that Juan Carlos Ferrero needs to be given enough credit for Carlos Alcaraz’s seventh Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open. The Spaniard was without his long-term coach at the tournament after parting ways with him weeks before the Melbourne Grand Slam.

Several analysts had pointed out that Alcaraz might not be at his best at the Australian Open due to his split with Ferrero. The 22-year-old worked with the former French Open champion for seven years. He had often credited Ferrero for his impact on his game and style of play on the court, as they began working together when Alcaraz was a teenager.

Samuel Lopez took Ferrero’s place in Alcaraz’s team, having been the second coach. In Melbourne, Alcaraz wrote his name in the history book of the sport. He didn’t drop a set until the semi-finals, where he fought hard to beat Alexander Zverev in five sets despite initially leading two sets to love.

The World No.1 faced Novak Djokovic on Sunday (February 1) at the Australian Open men’s singles final. He overcame an early set deficit against the 10-time champion, rallying with tactical poise and physical resilience to overcome the Serbian legend 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

The win made him become the youngest man in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam at 22 years, 272 days. During the latest episode of the Served podcast, Andy Roddick analyzed that without Ferrero, Alcaraz wouldn’t have been in this position. He added that the former Spanish player built the necessary foundation in Alcaraz’s career for him to succeed:

First, anyone saying ‘he doesn’t need JCF’ — okay, yes, it’s wildly impressive that Carlos, after all this upheaval, can go in and win a Slam. Crazy. Good job to his team. Carlos will forever be the product of the development work he did with JCF… This Slam was without JCF, but no future Slam will exist without the foundation they built together. It’s like renovating a house — you’re still thankful the foundation didn’t crack.

Ferrero had declared that he feels heartbroken following the split with Alcaraz. He also pointed out during an interview that he doesn’t feel happy watching Alcaraz excel without him, as he wanted to be part of the 22-year-old’s team this season. Reports suggest that Ferrero and Alcaraz’s split was due to financial issues.

Andy Roddick says Carlos Alcaraz has matured excellently on tour

Carlos Alcaraz arrived at the Australian Open under pressure to prove a point. He had never gone beyond the quarter-finals of the tournament having exited the tournament at that stage in 2024 and 2025. But the World No.1 showed perseverance on the court, beating two top 5 players en route to the Grand Slam title.

Carlos Alcaraz wins the 2026 Australian Open title
Carlos Alcaraz wins the 2026 Australian Open title (image via X)

Alcaraz has shown impressive growth since last season, winning difficult matches on tour and managing his emotions on the court. During the aforementioned conversation, Andy Roddick noted that Alcaraz has shown great maturity on tour, which has separated him from the rest of the players:

It’s about how he handles moments when everything is on the line, how he adapts mid-match, and how he learns from every point. That’s what separates someone who’s good from someone who’s historic. Watching him now, you can see the difference in how he thinks through the match. He has options, he sees pathways that others don’t, and he stays calm under pressure. That’s why even when Novak was throwing everything at him, he didn’t crack.

Alcaraz will hope to continue with his form on court as the season progresses. He’s expected to feature in the Rotterdam Open before the Middle East swing and then the Sunshine Doubles in March. He has eight titles to defend this year, including two Grand Slams, more than any player on tour.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic Drops Huge Retirement Hint After Australian Open Heartbreak: “May Not Return as Player”