Juan Carlos Ferrero explains how ‘very emotional’ Carlos Alcaraz must improve

Ewan West 24 Nov 2023 10:07 AM

Carlos Alcaraz is pumped at the ATP Finals

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates at 2023 ATP Finals

Carlos Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has declared that the Spanish star can improve by not ‘opening doors’ for opponents in matches and improving his decision making.

The former world No 1 assessed that Alcaraz is “very emotional” and recognised this can be both positive and negative for his player, who he feels will make the necessary improvements with experience.

Alcaraz finished a superb 2023 season at the ATP Finals last week, where he was beaten in straight sets by eventual winner Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. He was making his year-end championships debut, having missed the 2022 edition through injury after qualifying.

The world No 2 claimed six ATP titles and posted a 65-12 (84.4%) record this year. The highlight for the 20-year-old was his five-set victory over Djokovic to win his second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in July.

The Spaniard also secured Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Madrid, ATP 500 events in Barcelona and at Queen’s Club, and an ATP 250 in Buenos Aires.

In an interview with Marca, Ferrero explained how he feels Alcaraz can continue to progress and highlighted his charge’s comments about Djokovic not giving opponents opportunities by making mistakes.

“Be more regular in games, not 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,” said the Spaniard.

“He knows it, the other day he already said that Novak doesn’t give you one. He has to improve his decision making and he will achieve that with experience. Carlos is very emotional and that sometimes helps him and other times not so much.”

The 2003 French Open champion also addressed how physical work is a priority in Alcaraz’s training for the 2024 season.

“Because of the year and the fatigue he has been in, what he needs is rest and disconnecting for 8-10 days with his friends. From there, the thinking must go back to working really hard, strong and well to start very strongly in Australia,” he outlined.

Ferrero was asked if exhibition play will be enough to prepare Alcaraz for the Australian Open, with the world No 2 not entering any ATP tournaments in the lead-up to the Major.

“One can never be sure of that. Sometimes you play a tournament and it doesn’t go well, you left home too early. There are many ways of thinking. This year we haven’t played Australia and he finishes number two. That means there is no urgency to play a tournament early,” said Ferrero.

“Carlos is a player who enters competition quickly, you don’t usually see him without rhythm. Although it is true that he becomes more dangerous from the round of 16, from the quarter-finals. I am confident that the two exhibition matches and the training sessions will help us play a good tournament.”

Two-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz missed the 2023 Australian Open due to a leg injury.