Carlos Alcaraz’s coach reveals one key quality he would like the Spaniard to develop
Juan Carlos Ferrero has revealed he would like Carlos Alcaraz to have “a little more order” when asked to pick one quality he would instil in his player.
Alcaraz is currently in action at the 2024 Madrid Open, where he faces Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The Spaniard is looking to become the first player to triumph in Madrid three times in a row after winning the Masters 1000 tournament in 2022 and 2023.
The world No 3 is playing his first event since the Miami Open in March after missing the Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open due to an arm injury.
Alcaraz, who will turn 21 on May 5, will be one of the favourites to win the 2024 French Open, where he will be seeking his third Grand Slam title to add to victories at the 2022 US Open and the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.
During an interview with Esquire, Ferrero was asked which of his own virtues as a tennis player he would give to Alcaraz if he could.
“Maybe a little more order,” he said. “Once all the maelstrom of mine as a player has passed and you are older, you realise that you could have done things with a little more strategy and order, right?
“Obviously, at 20 years old it is difficult to have that clarity of ideas when doing many things, but I would leave him that little extra order.”
The 2003 French Open winner also highlighted the most important values he is trying to imprint on Alcaraz.
“Respect and fidelity. Respecting everyone is very important, no matter what status you have,” Ferrero explained.
“And loyalty to the people who have always helped you and who are close to you. I think those are generally two of the most important values you can have today.”
Ferrero addressed what he has learned from Alcaraz since he started coaching his fellow Spaniard in 2018.
“He is a very faithful boy, very simple and despite how quickly everything has gone he has not been surprised by anything,” said the 16-time ATP titlist.
“What we have learned the most from him is his way of taking things, how open he is to people being so well known.
“Taking so naturally all the things that are happening to him I think is a very important quality in such a young boy and all of us who are around him like to see him like that and we learn.”
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