“The coach is there to support you,” Carlos Alcaraz explains Juan Carlos Ferrero’s influence on his game

Carlos Alcaraz believes in team effort despite playing an individual sport.

“The coach is there to support you,” Carlos Alcaraz explains Juan Carlos Ferrero’s influence on his game

Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz and Juanjo Moreno (via IMAGO)

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz has credited his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, for his development and grooming as a tennis player. The Spaniard won his first Roland Garros title on Sunday, defeating Alexander Zverev in five sets.

In an interview with L’Equipe, Alcaraz discussed the importance of Ferrero in his gameplay. Ferrero, who was also a Roland Garros champion, has been with the 21-year-old since his first season on the tour.

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Honestly, in the vast majority of cases, I apply what Juan Carlos advises me to do. From outside the court, we can see much better what needs to be put in place. Because we are more relaxed too. The coach is there to support you and to give you the best instructions for you. So I apply. There are plenty of moments where I don't really know what to do on the court. Others where I get frustrated because I can't find the right way to play. But tennis is a sport full of possibilities, which often comes down to small details. And you can move into the dominant position in no time.
Carlos Alcaraz in an interview with L’Equipe

Ever since on-court coaching rules were applied to tennis, Ferrero and Alcaraz have been seen talking to each other many times about tactics and approaches. Although many pundits, including John McEnroe, have criticized the former World No. 1 for his involvement, it is proving effective in Alcaraz’s on-court performances.

The Spaniard will now turn his focus to grass, where he will defend his titles at Queens and Wimbledon. He won his first Wimbledon title last year in five sets against Novak Djokovic. After that, he will prepare for the Paris Olympics, where he will partner with Rafael Nadal in doubles for Spain.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner: Race for the World No.1 ranking hots up

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz hold the top two rankings on the ATP tour, marking a significant shift in men’s tennis. With Novak Djokovic struggling with injury issues and a lack of form, and Rafael Nadal set to retire, tennis is transitioning away from the Big 3.

However, the two young tennis titans face challenges in maintaining their ranking positions. Alcaraz is the defending champion at Wimbledon, having won in five sets against the Serbian last year. After that, the Spaniard has no more titles to defend.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner (via IMAGO)

Alcaraz’s only significant runs after his SW19 triumph are the finals at Cincinnati and the semi-finals of the US Open. On the other hand, Sinner has an inconsistent pathway to maintaining his No. 1 ranking. The Italian will prepare for his first Masters 1000 title defense at the Canadian Masters right after the Olympic Games. If he makes it deep at the Games, the Australian Open champion will likely withdraw from that tournament.

However, Sinner won’t have many points to defend until the US Open. After that, he is defending two ATP 500s in China and Vienna, respectively. Moreover, he played in the finals of the ATP World Tour Finals last year, where he lost to Djokovic. Both players can end the season as World No. 1. However, Alcaraz has fewer points to defend in the second half of the season compared to Sinner.

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