Juan Carlos Ferrero and that “something scandalous” that Carlos Alcaraz is achieving | ATP Tour

Wimbledon

Ferrero and that “something scandalous” that Alcaraz is achieving

The Valencian coach analyses the match against Novak Djokovic

July 13, 2024

The day before the final, Juan Carlos Ferrero only has words of praise for Carlos Alcaraz, who for the second consecutive year will fight for the Wimbledon title against Novak Djokovic.

“We are very happy,” Ferrero admitted before leaving to train with the 21-year-old. “I think that Carlos’ performance in the tournament has gone from bad to better. His confidence, above all, has been increasing until he reached the final, but what he is doing after winning the Roland Garros title, changing his mindset and preparing in this way to reach the final, is something outrageous,” he celebrated. “The level that Carlos is showing, especially mentally, withstanding the pressure that everyone unintentionally puts on him… the truth is that he is a 10,” the coach emphasized.

“He surprises everyone,” Ferrero revealed. “I think we are very clear about the level he has, but generating it every week… People have to know that it is something tremendously difficult to do. That is why there is so much admiration for Rafa.” [Nadal]Novak [Djokovic] o Roger [Federer]who have been doing it for so many years. Carlos is experiencing it first-hand and it is something surprising, even for the team.”

There are many things that are surprising about Alcaraz: his precocity, his maturity, his records, his three Grand Slam titles and the fact that he has managed to adapt so well to a very uneven surface like grass.

“It’s a surface that you only play on for three weeks a year and that almost everyone doesn’t adapt to, especially because of the mobility that one needs on the court,” Ferrero explained. “Carlos, because of his style of play, we already saw when he came to play in the junior tournament that he could adapt very well in the coming years, and the truth is that he is proving it. When he really gets the hang of moving well on the court, his game adapts perfectly to the surface.”

Saturday, the day before the final, was a quiet one for Alcaraz. After a morning training session on the courts at Aorangi Park, he went back to his rented house just a few metres from Wimbledon to rest, probably already thinking about the match against Djokovic, who leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 3-2.

“What we know [de Djokovic] “He was in the operating room 37 days ago and now he is in the Wimbledon final,” Ferrero recalled. “You have to face reality, and the reality is that he has come out of the operation very quickly and very well. I think he has managed to play at a good level again and, above all, the most important thing for him is to be at a fairly optimal physical level. He is moving well, we are seeing him slide without problems when he moves. We have to plan the match expecting a battle at least like last year. I have already been telling Carlos that it will be five hours again, so the mental level has to be very high.”

In 2023, Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in an epic final that he won in the fifth set, defeating the seven-time Wimbledon champion and sending a message to the entire world.

“Novak has a lot more experience and Carlos can approach the match with more calm after winning last year and trying to improve things,” Ferrero reflected. “He is growing a lot in terms of experience, sensations and experiences on the court. In fact, he is increasingly realizing that mental strength is something that often gets him out of these problems. We know that he is quite an emotional player on the court, that he often shows his emotions, but I think he is handling it better and better. A year of experience is worth a lot.”

Still, Ferrero believes that Djokovic should be the favourite, even though until recently he was recovering from the meniscus surgery that forced him to withdraw from Roland Garros.

“If we are realistic, the favourite is Djokovic, because of his experience in playing these kinds of finals and the titles he has at Wimbledon,” said Ferrero. “Obviously, we know Carlos’ potential. In the team we like to think that if Carlos is in good shape, he will create a really difficult match for Novak, but we know Djokovic’s level. Even on bad days he knows how to handle himself very well and solve those problems, so we expect a very high-level match from Novak.”

In London, everything is ready. The grand final of Wimbledon is on its way.”