Juan Carlos Ferrero had a plan for Carlos Alcaraz at the start of the year, and it’s fair to say they have stuck to it well.
And although it was not a well-publicised one, it did seek to address one of the main concerns that people often lobby at the 22-year-old.
After all, there are so few other issues within his game to outline, as one of the most enthralling and well-rounded players we have seen in years.
A truly generational talent, Carlos Alcaraz is on track to emulate some of the greatest tennis players of all time.
However, Andrea Petkovic has since revealed a conversation she shared with Juan Carlos Ferrero, which outlined a surprising plan to simplify his student’s game.
What Juan Carlos Ferrero said about Carlos Alcaraz at the start of the year
Seeking to praise the Spaniard, who won Grand Slam number five earlier this month, Petkovic started by harking back to the chat she shared earlier in the year.
She revealed on her brilliantly insightful SubStack: ‘When I asked Carlos’ coach and 2003 Roland Garros champion Juan Carlos Ferrero at the beginning of the year what they had worked on in the off-season, Juan Carlos – who smells amazing and should drop his perfume of choice ASAP – told me they were trying to make Carlos more consistent. An easy thing to see and say, and one of the hardest things to pull off.’
Although, this plan was one she struggled to understand, continuing: ’How does one make a player that lives off his creativity more consistent without losing the edge of originality? That was the task team Alcaraz was faced with and what can I say, they managed to accomplish it.
‘While people were asking themselves whether Carlos and his inconsistencies can defend their French Open title, I was sitting there asking myself: Where in the seven hells are they making out inconsistencies?’
In the end, she admitted that Ferrero’s prediction has come true: ‘Some of the most important matches of the last 4 weeks have been won by Carlos because he was the more consistent player.’
After all, wins over Jannik Sinner in Rome and both Lorenzo Musetti and Ben Shelton in Paris showcased a maturity that disagreed with any alternative suggestion.
What’s next for Carlos Alcaraz after winning Roland Garros?
Alcaraz has developed something of a routine around this time of year, and he seems set to stick to it once again.
After all, why fix what’s not broken?
Having won Roland Garros, again, the two-time champion at the event has once again jetted off to Ibiza to enjoy some much-earned downtime before Queen’s.
Carlos Alcaraz’s grass-court record
| Year | Wins | Losses | Titles |
| 2024 | 8 | 1 | 1 (Wimbledon) |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 2 (Queen’s, Wimbledon) |
| 2022 | 3 | 1 | N/A |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | N/A |
However, Juan Carlos Ferrero has thrown Alcaraz’s Queen’s attendance into doubt, suggesting that further tests, both mentally and physically, are required before making the final decision.
Normally, the youngster plays Queen’s as his sole grass-court warm-up for Wimbledon, which he then goes on to win.
It’ll be interesting to see whether he diverts from this path that has led him to so much success at the All-England club.
