“I need him in the box,” Carlos Alcaraz replies to John McEnroe’s criticism about the Spaniard’s on-court coaching

John McEnroe didnt liked Juan Carlos Ferrero's 'constant talking' from the box.

“I need him in the box,” Carlos Alcaraz replies to John McEnroe’s criticism about the Spaniard’s on-court coaching

John McEnroe is not a fan of Juan Carlos Ferrero Carlos continuously coaching Carlos Alcaraz during matches (Via Imago)

Two-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz continued his quest for his first Roland Garros crown with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win on Sunday over Felix Auger-Aliassime. However, the Spaniard ended up in a bit of an argument with tennis legend John McEnroe.

Commenting on Alcaraz’s third-round match against Sebastian Korda, the seven-time singles Grand Slam champion gave his take on the World No. 3’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and the way he approaches a particular match. The American believes there shouldn’t be much communication between the player and the coach. However, Alcaraz defended his coach’s antics.

YouTube video
Six years now, a lot of things happen between us in the professional part and the personal part, but I need him in the box. I need everything he tells me from the box and it’s really helpful to give my 100% on the court.
Carlos Alcaraz said on Prime Video

The ATP has made rule changes regarding on-field coaching. Players are now allowed to receive on-field coaching from their staff on the tour and at Grand Slam events. Microphones are attached alongside the players’ staff so the words can be picked up for exclusive coverage.

Despite the argument, McEnroe credited Alcaraz’s wonderful display in the fourth round and called him an asset to the game. The World No. 3 is bidding to win Grand Slam events on all surfaces after winning the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon last year.

Looking at Carlos Alcaraz’s draw at the moment

World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz comfortably dispatched Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets to progress to his third consecutive Roland Garros quarter-final. He is projected to play Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last eight.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz giving a thumbs up (via Imago)

This will be a repeat of last year’s quarter-final, which the Spaniard won 6-2, 6-1, 7-6. The duo have played each other five times, and Alcaraz has emerged victorious on each occasion. They have met thrice on clay. Apart from last year’s French Open encounter, their remaining two clay meetings occurred in Barcelona in 2022 and 2023.

If Alcaraz repeats history and wins his sixth consecutive match against Tsitsipas, he is expected to renew his rivalry with Jannik Sinner. The duo is considered by many as the future of tennis, with some even labeling them as the new version of the iconic Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal rivalry. The duo have split their eight meetings at 4-4, with their only meeting in 2024 coming at Indian Wells. Alcaraz snapped Sinner’s unbeaten start to 2024 with a three-set win.

If Alcaraz manages to beat Sinner, he is projected to meet Novak Djokovic in a repeat of last year’s semi-final. The Spaniard lost in four sets and famously had a hamstring injury that hampered his performance at the start of the third set.

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