Juan Carlos Ferrero considers Jannik Sinner a ‘very difficult opponent’ for Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have had a good start to their 2025 season, winning the Australian Open and Rotterdam Open titles respectively
Follow Us
Juan Carlos Ferrero (in cirlce, via Instagram) Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (via X)
In an interview with El Programa de Ortega, Carlos Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, gave his insights on the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry. Ferrero, a former World No. 1, had won 16 ATP singles titles, including the 2003 French Open. He began coaching Carlos Alcaraz in 2019, when Alcaraz was 16 years old.
Under Ferrero’s guidance, Alcaraz has won 17 tournaments on the ATP Tour so far, including four Grand Slam titles and five Masters 1000 titles. Alcaraz also became the youngest World No. 1 in Open Era history, a feat he achieved in September 2022 at the age of 19.
He (Jannik Sinner) is a very complete player, he has been very aware of what he needs to improve in recent years, and he has achieved it. He is surrounded by a very experienced team that helps him a lot. He has matured a lot in the last year, and he is very aware of the things he feels in the game and what he feels to win. It will be a very difficult opponent, and he will demand a lot from Carlos so that he does not fall asleep and continues to improve as much as possible to stand up to Jannik and many others: Zverev, Tsitsipas, Rublev or Novak, who is always there.
Juan Carlos Ferrero via El Programa de Ortega
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the emerging names in men’s tennis as the tennis world departs from the era of the dominance of the Big 3—Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz and Sinner have faced each other 10 times on court, with the Spaniard leading their head-to-head 6-4.
Juan Carlos Ferrero described Sinner as a very complete player who is going to be a very tough opponent to Alcaraz. Ferrero remarked that the Italian has a very experienced team around him that helps him a lot.
Sinner has been coaching under Darren Cahill since July 2022, a partnership that is set to end by the end of the season. Unlike other tennis players, instead of hiring a mental coach, Sinner uses Formula Medicine, an Italian mental training program developed for Formula 1 drivers. Sinner also receives strong support from his father, a chef, who cooks for the team at major tournaments.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will compete at the Qatar Open
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner started off their 2025 season with the Australian Open. While Alcaraz had a heartbreaking exit after losing to Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, World No. 1 Sinner went on to successfully defend his Australian Open title, clinching his third Grand Slam title.
Sinner took a brief break after his victory, and he will return to tour with the Qatar Open. Following the Australian Open, Alcaraz won his first indoor title at his debut Rotterdam Open campaign. He will also feature next at the Qatar Open which is now in its 33rd edition.
The Qatar Open, which is played on outdoor hard courts, will run in Doha from 17 to 22 February 2025. Sinner and Alcaraz are yet to clinch a title at this ATP 500 tournament, which has been won in the past by several prominent tennis players like Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic.
Several other top men’s tennis players are set to feature at the Qatar Open, e.g. Alex de Minaur, Stefano Tsitsipas and 2020 champion Andrey Rublev. Novak Djokovic who has been recovering from a painful hamstring injury which he endured at the Australian open, will also make his return to the tour with this tournament.
Stay Updated!
Lakshya Chopra
(2645 Articles Published)