Carlos Alcaraz’s coach Samuel Lopez explains why the Spaniard makes racket changes ahead of the Australian Open

Samuel Lopez believes a heavier racket will increase the quality of Carlos Alcaraz's hit at the 2025 Australian Open.

Carlos Alcaraz’s coach Samuel Lopez explains why the Spaniard makes racket changes ahead of the Australian Open

Carlos Alcaraz and Samuel Lopez (via AP/MARCA)

In tennis, players often make minor tweaks to their technique and equipment to bring their best game to the court. The likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic were known to always use specific types of rackets as part of their winning strategy. Recently, Carlos Alcaraz has followed in their footsteps, making a significant change in his racket.

After the 2024 season ended, Alcaraz featured in two exhibition tournaments in the United States before going on vacation to the Dominican Republic. The Spaniard is back on the training court ahead of this year’s Australian and has been at the Ferrero Tennis Academy in Villena and the Club de Campo de Murcia.

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During the training session, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Samuel Lopez explored the strengths and weaknesses of Alcaraz’s game. They both found out that the 21-year-old needed to generate more speed with his forehand while working with several Babolat rackets. After a long trial, they came to the conclusion that Alcaraz will be a racket with a five-gram heavier neck in 2025.

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In a recent interview, Samuel Lopez, who was recently added to Alcaraz’s team said that the reason for the change is that with a heavier racket, the quality of the impact while hitting a ball will be to Alcaraz’s advantage.

It’s an extra help in the stroke. With that acceleration he has, he will gain in power and weight of the ball. With his quality of impact, with a racket with more weight, just touching the ball in front you take advantage of the force of how it comes to you. It is being noticed a lot these days in the rest.

Samuel Lopez said via MARCA

Ahead of the Australian Open, Alcaraz will need every extra weapon to counteract the game of rivals such as Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev. The Spaniard will also hope to be at his best physically during the tournament, which starts on January 12.

Former WTA star takes a swipe at Carlos Alcaraz’s last season performance

Carlos Alcaraz didn’t have the best 2024 season, as he struggled to find consistency for the majority of the year and managed to win four titles eventually.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (via X)

Former WTA star Andrea Petkovic recently took a swipe at the four-time major champion, claiming that the Spaniard has a disadvantage compared to Jannik Sinner. She added that he doesn’t have a plan B when matches aren’t going his way.

The only problem I see with Carlos is that he doesn’t have a plan B, and that’s something very necessary which his rivals do possess. Sinner, Djokovic, or Zverev know how to play differently depending on their feelings; I would even say [Taylor] Fritz has that alternative plan. What happens with him is that when he’s at his highest level, he’s the best player in the world, but when he’s off his game, his tennis is horrendous. He becomes disorganised, makes many mistakes, can’t rally from the baseline, and commits double faults.

Andrea Petkovic said via Rennae Stubbs podcast

Alcaraz didn’t play in any warm-up tournament ahead of the Australian Open, as he looks forward to starting his 2025 campaign at the Australian Open. The former World No.1 is aiming to become the youngest men’s player to earn a Career Slam in Melbourne.