Juan Carlos Ferrero Explains How Carlos Alcaraz Can Surpass Big 3

Carlos Alcaraz is chasing his third title of the season at Indian Wells following his wins at the Australian Open and the Qatar Open.

Juan Carlos Ferrero Explains How Carlos Alcaraz Can Surpass Big 3

L-R: Juan Carlos Ferrero, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic (inset), Carlos Alcaraz (Image ATP Tour, X/ESPN Tenis)

In Short
  • Carlos Alcaraz is set to compete against Grigor Dimitrov at Indian Wells as a two-time champion.
  • Juan Carlos Ferrero believes Alcaraz can surpass the Big 3 in Grand Slam titles if he maintains discipline and hard work.
  • Ferrero has not coached Alcaraz since December but remains open to returning if asked.

Carlos Alcaraz will be locking horns with Grigor Dimitrov to kick-start his campaign at Indian Wells, where he is playing as a two-time champion. Alcaraz tasted success in the California desert for the first time in 2023 by defeating Daniil Medvedev.

He defended his crown the following season by beating the 2021 US Open champion. Last year, however, he lost to eventual champion Jack Draper in the semifinals. This year, Alcaraz has won two titles already.

First, he lifted his career’s maiden title at the Australian Open by upsetting Novak Djokovic. The 22-year-old continued his winning ways by dismantling Arthur Fils to win his maiden title at the Qatar Open. Both these trophies he won without the guidance of Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Prior to his Australian Open success, which made him the youngest Career Grand Slam champion, Alcaraz had won all 24 of his tour-level titles under the tutelage of the 2003 French Open champion.

Ferrero and Alcaraz split last December, and the former, during his interview with Chiringuito Inside, was asked if he thinks his ex-protege can achieve what Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Djokovic have done – reach the 20 Grand Slam titles tally.

I would love for him to do it. I’ve always thought that if he works hard, he can achieve it. The key will be that when his motivation dips, discipline is what pulls him through. Novak has done that brilliantly throughout his career. At the beginning, it’s all about enthusiasm, but there comes a point when you lose some of that spark, and that’s when hard work and discipline take over.

Ferrero also revealed which aspects of the seven-time Grand Slam champion’s game are similar to that of the Big 3.

Carlos’s class, his ability to execute any shot, is similar to Federer’s. From Novak, he has his solid baseline game and his intelligence in covering gaps and anticipating where his opponent will play. From Rafa, he gets his mentality, that unwavering belief that he can win, that he has to fight until the very end.

Juan Carlos Ferrero added

Ferrero is now coaching Spanish golfer Angel Ayora. Alcaraz is coached by Samuel Lopez, who joined his team in December 2024.

Juan Carlos Ferrero reveals his relationship with Carlos Alcaraz after unfollowing him on Instagram

During that aforementioned interview with Chiringuito Inside, Juan Carlos Ferrero opened up about his relationship with Carlos Alcaraz after the latter did not acknowledge him in his victory speech at the Australian Open. Ferrero, following Alcaraz’s triumph at Melbourne Park, also unfollowed him, but not “out of spite” but because he needed some time to “separate” himself from the youngster.

Carlos Alcaraz Juan Carlos Ferrero
Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero (via X/The Tennis Letter)

It didn’t bother me that he didn’t mention me; obviously, if he had, I would have appreciated it, but I assume that he and his team have decided not to discuss the matter further, and that’s that.

Although Ferrero hasn’t seen Alcaraz since last December, they have spoken multiple times. Asked whether he intends to return to the circuit, Ferrero said he for sure will be back but not in the near future, adding that he has received many offers and that if Alcaraz ever asks him to join his entourage, he wouldn’t be able to say no.

Alcaraz is on a 12-match winning streak, thanks to his back-to-back wins in Melbourne and Doha. The last time he lost a match was in the title clash of the 2025 ATP Finals to Jannik Sinner. The last time he lifted a Masters 1000 title was at the 2025 Cincinnati Masters against the four-time Grand Slam champion. Last year, apart from Cincinnati, the Murcia native also won Masters 1000 trophies in Rome and Monte Carlo.

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