Despite the criticism he has faced recently, particularly following his early exit from the Miami Open, Carlos Alcaraz remains one of the most important players on the ATP Tour and a major tennis prospect for the coming decade, now that the era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic is winding down. He recently singled out a former World No. 1 Spanish player as pivotal in his growth.
In an interview on Louis Vuitton’s Extended Podcast, Alcaraz emphasized the importance of Juan Carlos Ferrero, the former tennis star and his current coach. “I learned a lot from him, at the beginning of our partnership,” said the current World No. 3.
Alcaraz then made it clear that Ferrero’s influence goes beyond just tennis knowledge. “I learned a lot from him as a person and as a player. He taught me the importance of being a good person off the court, and how the things you’re doing have a huge impact on the court,” the young player explained.
This isn’t the first time Alcaraz has highlighted the significance of his coach. “He is a very important person for me, as I have said many times, I already consider him family,” Carlos explained during an interview with Tennis World USA in 2024. “I trust him 100%, I can talk to him about everything both professionally and personally.”
Former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero
When discussing Ferrero’s qualities as a coach, Alcaraz was clear: “He is tough. He is a very serious person when he has to be. When it comes to work and discipline, he is very hard on you... He has made me grow a lot as a player and as a person.”
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Other tennis stars recognize Ferrero’s work with Alcaraz
Juan Carlos Ferrero’s solid work with Carlos Alcaraz is evident in the player’s performances on the ATP Tour, despite his young age. However, other tennis stars have also spoken out, praising the efforts of the former World No. 1.
“He’s doing a phenomenal job of guiding him because he’s been through the same thing,” said Roberto Bautista Agut, currently ranked World No. 52, according to Essentially Sports. “I’m so happy that everything is going so well for them.”
Who is Juan Carlos Ferrero?
Ferrero was part of a generation of Spanish tennis players who dominated the ATP Tour during the early 2000s, including Carlos Moya, Rafael Nadal, and David Ferrer. Juan Carlos was a professional tennis player for 14 years, from 1998 to 2012. During that time, he won 16 official titles, including the 2003 French Open and Masters 1000 titles in Rome, Monte-Carlo (twice), and Madrid.
Ferrero’s best year on the ATP Tour was 2003, when he won four titles and held the top spot in the ATP rankings for 8 weeks. Retiring in 2012, he briefly competed on the World Padel Tour. He has been coaching Carlos Alcaraz since 2018.
