Juan Carlos Ferrero Has Done ‘Better Job’ with Carlos Alcaraz, believes Their Mentor: “It was Surprising for Me”

Carlos Alcaraz lifted six Grand Slam titles and became the World No.1 player under the guidance of coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Juan Carlos Ferrero Has Done ‘Better Job’ with Carlos Alcaraz, believes Their Mentor: “It was Surprising for Me”

Carlos Alcaraz, Juan Carlos Ferrero (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

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Carlos Alcaraz started to train under Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2018 at the age of 15. Antonio Martinez Cascales, the mentor of Ferrero, is impressed by the way the latter groomed the now six-time Grand Slam champion.

Alcaraz clinched eight titles from 11 finals, the most this season. These titles also include the US Open and the French Open, which he won after coming from two sets down and saving three championship points in the fourth set. Both these trophies he lifted by defeating his arch-rival Jannik Sinner, who denied him the three-peat at Wimbledon.

Also under Ferrero, Alcaraz became the No.1 player for the first time after clinching his first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open. Cascales, during his interview with Carlos Calderon on the Llamada a Pista podcast, explained why Ferrero turned down the coaching offers of the then top 10 players to take Alcaraz under his wing.

Juan Carlos had offers from the best, the Top 10 at that time. Thiem called him, [Juan Martin] Del Potro, [David] Goffin, [Simona] Halep… He told me he didn’t want to take up someone who was already established because he didn’t want to be a cone on the court. It was relatively surprising for me. I know Juan Carlos and what he saw in Carlos. His essence hasn’t changed. Carlos is a super nice guy, very grateful…

Antonio Martinez Cascales said

Alcaraz took home five Big Titles this season. Apart from the French Open and the US Open, he clinched the Monte Carlo Masters, Italian Open, and the Cincinnati Masters.

That’s what Juan Carlos appreciated the most. When Carlos was 16, Juan Carlos asked me if I thought he would be number one. I said, ‘He will be number one unless something like an injury happens or he loses his way.’ He was a very special player. Juan Carlos has done a much better job than I thought.

Antonio Martinez Cascales added

Alcaraz missed out on his first ATP Finals title, losing the title clash to Sinner in straight sets. He also added three ATP 500 titles to his trophy cabinet (Rotterdam Open, Queen’s Club Championships, and the Japan Open).

Carlos Alcaraz on the difficulties he deals with while playing Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz is set to play two exhibition events before the Australian Open. He will be in New Jersey in the United States for the A Racquet at The Rock, scheduled to start on December 7. A few days before the Australian Open, Alcaraz will play an exhibition match against Sinner in Incheon, South Korea.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, Jannik Sinner HQ)

During his interview with Tennis Korea, Alcaraz was asked what he thinks is the most difficult thing about playing Sinner.

Playing against him isn’t enough. You have to maintain a high level of focus throughout the match, and there’s no room for a moment of complacency. He’s a player you have to give 100% from the first point to the last to create a chance of winning.

Alcaraz faced Sinner in the final of the Six Kings Slam in the previous two editions of the lucrative Riyadh exhibition. Both times, the 22-year-old suffered defeats, with the four-time Grand Slam champion taking home the $6 million as prize money.

This year, Sinner and Alcaraz met six times, with the former winning the matches just twice (at Wimbledon and the ATP Finals) to improve his overall head-to-head record to 6-10. Sinner, in spite of his three-month doping ban, ended up lifting six titles, including two Grand Slam trophies, from 10 finals. The win over Alcaraz at the ATP Finals also helped him improve his winning streak to 31 matches on indoor hardcourts.

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