“Not his forehand, but…” Roger Federer’s ex-coach reveals what impresses him the most about Carlos Alcaraz

Many tennis pundits consider Carlos Alcaraz to be as good as Roger Federer.

“Not his forehand, but…” Roger Federer’s ex-coach reveals what impresses him the most about Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz with Roland Garros trophy (via Imago)

Carlos Alcaraz has officially become the face of men’s tennis after his first Roland Garros win. With three Grand Slam titles under his belt, the tennis world is already estimating how many more slams and titles he can add to his tally.

One of the players Alcaraz is compared with is Roger Federer. The Swiss Maestro was one of the most graceful tennis players of all time, and even Federer’s coach, Severin Luthi, discussed the attributes that he found similar in Alcaraz, while talking to the Tennis Legend podcast.

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What impresses me most is his passion. I have the impression that he lives all this, that he enjoys doing what he does. It's very important to have a good education, to have your feet on the ground, that's what impresses me the most about him, not so much his forehand, which is also incredible. Focusing on the game, what's most impressive is how complete it is.
Severin Luthi on Tennis Legend Podcast

Luthi was a long-term coach of Federer and the Swiss Davis Cup team. His greatest moment with the 20-time Grand Slam champion was the Davis Cup title in 2014, when Switzerland beat France in the final.

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Alcaraz is expected to attain the same heights with Spain and his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. With a tennis history behind him of Manuel Santana and Rafael Nadal showing Spain’s prowess in tennis, the World No.2 is likely to add a lot of honors to his country’s name.

Carlos Alcaraz signs a new deal with Nike

Newly-crowned Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz has entered into a lucrative agreement with retail giant Nike, receiving a privilege previously reserved for legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Ahead of his first Grand Slam win in Paris, the Spaniard secured a new 10-year contract with Nike, extending his association beyond the original 2025 endpoint. This deal is reportedly worth £160 million and, significantly, includes the creation of his own Nike logo.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz at Queens (via Imago)

Federer, who partnered with Nike in 2008, was 26 when the RF logo was introduced, while Nadal was 27 when he received his unique design in 2013. Alcaraz’s rapid rise is highlighted by being granted this honor at just 21 years old.

The World No.2’s victory in Paris made him the youngest player to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces, following his US Open win in 2022 and his Wimbledon triumph last summer. He now only needs the Australian Open title to complete a career Grand Slam.

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