Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero defends Carlos Alcaraz for his decision to play another exhibition match amid criticism

Carlos Alcaraz, who complained of fatigue last year, has signed up for another exhibition event where he will face Frances Tiafoe.

Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero defends Carlos Alcaraz for his decision to play another exhibition match amid criticism

Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz (Images via X)

Carlos Alcaraz is set to play another exhibition event, this time, before Indian Wells. He arrived in Puerto Rico to lock horns with Frances Tiafoe in the exhibition match in San Juan, scheduled on Sunday (March 2).

Alcaraz has been at the receiving end of criticism for his decision to play exhibition matches as he complained of extreme fatigue last year. Former Grand Slam champion Andy Roddick had advised the Spaniard to not complain about the hectic ATP schedule if he doesn’t have decent campaigns in tournaments at the start of the season.

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Legendary Billie Jean King also defended the tennis calendars and urged the players to focus on rest and recovery instead of choosing the exhibition events during the off-season. Alcaraz, instead of playing any warm-up matches before the Australian Open, played two exhibition matches in Charlotte and New York during the off-season. Amid criticism, his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero defended his protege.

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Exhibitions help to relax a little; the game is played in a different way. In the end, it’s played at a very high level of intensity, and playing this kind of match, with a bit more smiling and entertainment for the spectators, always helps to relax a bit.

Juan Carlos Ferrero told El Nuevo Dia

Following the exhibition match in Puerto Rico, Alcaraz will be arriving in the California desert in his bid to complete the three-peat at Indian Wells. He won the title in 2023 and 2024 by defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final both times.

John Isner is not concerned about Carlos Alcaraz’s lapse of concentration

John Isner defended Carlos Alcaraz when Steve Johnson expressed concerns about the Spaniard’s tendency to fluctuate in matches. The 21-year-old dropped the first set against Jiri Lehecka in the Qatar Open quarterfinal.

Carlos Aclaraz
Carlos Aclaraz (via Instagram)

He won the next set but failed to capitalize on his lead and ended up losing the match with scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Johnson questioned his lapse of concentration but Isner backed him and said that Alcaraz would learn to be more consistent when he gets older.

I don’t think this is what we are going to see for the next five to eight years. It is easy to forget that he is still only 21 years old. His best tennis is, you can argue in all likelihood, five years from now.

John Isner said on Nothing Major podcast

Alcaraz has claimed one title this season. After his Australian Open quarterfinal exit, the four-time Grand Slam champion beat Alex de Minaur to clinch his first Rotterdam Open title.