Carlos Alcaraz, the world no. 2, recently found himself amidst the candid remarks from his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. The experienced coach highlighted an important aspect of a tennis player’s professional journey, stressing the necessity for his pupil to be mentally attuned to it if he aspired to establish his place in the upper echelons of the sport.
Ferrero had stated, “I think that professionally he has to start learning that the world of tennis is from January to November.” During the 2023 season, Alcaraz’s journey concluded with a loss to Novak Djokovic in the ATP Finals semifinal. Despite a strong start to the year, claiming six titles, including Wimbledon, Alcaraz faced a dip in form from August onward, experiencing a three-match losing streak.
Ferrero had further added, “He has to take his breaks, but this is a wheel, which continues, and it is a job and it is what you have to do,” somewhat suggesting that the rigors of being a top 5 player in this highly competitive sport had set in mental fatigue too early for Alcaraz.
Carlos Alcaraz says he was frustrated after a point where he played his best tennis & still lost it:
“Well, it was an unbelievable point. I would say I couldn’t play this point better. Even with that, I lost it. It’s a little bit of frustration for me to play my best tennis in… pic.twitter.com/F9uClqHaAV
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 18, 2023
Reflecting on his coach’s words, Alcaraz acknowledged the truth in Ferrero’s advice, stating, “A few days ago I read an interview in which Juan Carlos said that I had to learn that the season is from January to November. That couldn’t be more true.” Admitting his struggle with the latter part of the season, Alcaraz made a commitment to an improvement for the upcoming 2024 season.
In looking ahead to the 2024 season, Alcaraz expressed his commitment, particularly in managing the demands of the prolonged tennis season. His candid approval of Ferrero’s comments showcases a determination to evolve professionally and prepare for the challenges that the sport presents.
Carlos Alcaraz’s key improvement areas as per his coach
In the ongoing journey of Carlos Alcaraz’s tennis career, his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has outlined key areas of improvement for the young Spanish star. Despite already achieving significant milestones at the age of 20, including two Major titles, Alcaraz continues to strive for excellence under Ferrero’s guidance. Ferrero has pointed towards specific aspects that need attention.
He emphasizes the need for Alcaraz to “be more consistent” in his matches, not in terms of winning but in avoiding unnecessary openings for his opponents. He has expressed that Alcaraz has the potential to reach the heights attained much like the Big 3. But for that, Ferrero feels that his ward needs consistency much like his arch-rival Djokovic, one that revolves around minimizing errors.
Ferrero says, “Be more consistent in matches, don’t open doors. Sometimes there are mistakes and it is something that we have to improve a lot. Although it is true that he opens doors, he always competes well and at the highest level.” Ferrero’s constructive criticism comes from his desire to mold Alcaraz into a player who, like Djokovic, doesn’t concede mistakes nor provide opponents with any window of opportunities during matches.
Carlos Alcaraz says he talked with Juan Carlos Ferrero after his first loss at ATP Finals & said it’s time to give everything he has:
“I feel that I am playing the same level that I’ve been playing the first part of the year. I spoke with Juan Carlos after the first match about… pic.twitter.com/ADBXcwpkXr
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 18, 2023
The coach believes that Alcaraz’s emotional approach to the game and his diverse range of shots are a double-edged sword. This means they can be advantageous at times but also pose challenges, especially when that leads to overthinking. It remains to be seen how Ferrero’s guidance will make Alcaraz a more accomplished player in 2024.