Last Updated on October 4, 2022
Spain’s new tennis sensation, an expert on clay with a fierce right hand and an explosive game, the youngest ever men’s World No.1 and new king of tennis, is Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz Garfia was born on 5th May 2003 in El Palmar, the most populous village in Murcia, Spain. His parents are Carlos and Virginia and he has three brothers, Alvaro, Sergio and Jamie. He grew up in a family with an affinity for tennis – his grandfather was the first member of a local tennis club and his father, a semi-pro who once finished runner up in the Spanish Championship, also ran a tennis academy. Carlos was growing up with a role model like Nadal and influenced by his father, started playing tennis at the age of four at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia where his father was the tennis academy director. In 2018 when he was 15-years old, Carlos moved to Alicante to train and improve his game at Equelite JC Ferrero Sport Academy.
Carlos is often compared to Nadal but he presents defensive abilities such as Pablo Carreno Busta and bears resemblance of Nicolas Almagro for a creative, offensive style of play. However Carlos is making a name for himself. He is all round tennis player, but primarily employs an aggressive baseline style of play with an emphasis on a high winner count from his forehand. Also key to his game is his well-placed and greatly-disguised drop shot.
“I know that there will never be another like Rafa in history. I am Carlos.” stated Alcaraz.
His idols growing up were Nadal, with whom he shares his fondness for clay courts. He also likes football and he counts himself as a Real Madrid fan. In an interview, asked what his favorite song is, he replied “The Eye of the Tiger”. Enough said about his ambitions in this sport.
Who Is Carlos Alcaraz’s Current Coach?
Juan Carlos Ferrero
Alcaraz owes his early success not only to his talent, but also to his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who combined his pro experience as a player with his extraordinary coaching skills, and manages Alcaraz’s career.
Juan Carlos Ferrero Donat was born on 12th February 1980 in Ontinyent, Spain. He began playing tennis at age seven with his father, Eduardo, who often traveled with him. During his playing career, he was nicknamed “Mosquito” for his speed and slender physical build. Ferrero won sixteen ATP titles and in the year when Alcaraz was born he won French Open, his only Grand Slam title. That year he reached World No.1, that he hold it for eight weeks. In 2012 he retired but after that it was announced that would make a comeback, playing in the Barcelona doubles draw alongside Pablo Carreno Busta. However, that would be his only tournament. During his playing days he admired the play of American Jim Courier.
After retirement he started working as a coach at Equelite JC Ferrero Sport Academy that was founded in 1995 by his coach Antonio Martinez Cascales. Today, 27 years later, they are still working together and their academy is becoming more and more prestigious.
In July 2017, Ferrero started working as a coach of Alexander Zverev, but their collaboration lasted only for seven months. For that period, Zverev won two Masters titles, at Washington Opan and Canda Open, peaking at World No.3.
During 2018, at the JC Academy came to train perhaps the greatest Spanish talent since Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz. That year he turned pro and started by playing ITF Futures and ATP Challengers.
“He was something different from what I was used to. With Carlos, we still had everything to do. He was a youngster that had a lot of potential but was very untidy, and I think that’s something we have improved. I feel the level of Carlos’s game is still at 60% of his maximum.” said Ferrero after the first year of training Alcaraz.
Under Ferrero’s mentorship, Carlos won his first pro title at 2019 Manacor M15 Futures tournament. After turning pro he won totally three ITF Futures and four ATP Challenger titles, and broke into the top 100 in rankings in May 2021. Two months later, Alcaraz won his maiden ATP title at Croatia Open in Umag and due to his results at following tournaments; he made his debut as the youngest player in the top 35 on 1 November.
Alcaraz started his 2022 season to remember by wining Rio Open, followed by title at 1000 Masters in Miami. Then he won two more titles on home court in Spain, at Barcelona Open and Madrid Open. The icing on the cake came at US open, where he won his first Grand Slam which led him to World No.1 at ATP ranking. Having in mind that he is only nineteen, his time in World tennis is yet to come.
“I’ve enjoyed how he plays since he started with me. I know that he will have those moments of genius. I always give him free rein to be creative, not a robot. The way he gives his all on court and plays, with that intensity and speed in his shots, he can do so many things during a match and that’s what people are entertained by. I enjoy watching him play, and I’ve been involved in the world of tennis for so long.” said Ferrero about his trainee during US Open.
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Carlos Alcaraz’s coaching team
Carlos Alcaraz’s coaching team is made up of several other individuals too.
Alberto Molina Lopez has been Carlos’ agent and manager since the age of 13. He is a former representative of David Ferrer and Nicolás Almagro. Alberton is an agent at multinational IMG, one of the biggest sports agencies in the world. He has linked Alcaraz with sponsors such as Nike, Rolex, and Babolat.
Other members of Alcaraz’ team includes fitness coaches Alberto Lledó and Álex Sánchez doctor Juan José López and physiotherapists Fran Rubio and Juanjo Moreno. Carlos credited Juanjo Moreno for his success in the 2022 Miami Open final.
“Well, he told me that everybody knows it’s going to be my first final, but trying to think that this is the first match of the tournament, try to manage the nerves like I did in the semi-final.” he said.
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Carlos Alcaraz’s achievements with different coaches
We have collected in the table the data about the trophies won by Carlos Alcaraz under the guidance of various coaches.
Coaches | Years of Cooperation | Titles |
Juan Carlos Ferrero | 2018 – ongoing | 2019 Manacor M15 Futures 2019 Denia M25 Futures 2020 Manacor M15 Futures 2020 Trieste Challenger 2020 Barcelona Challenger 2020 Alicante Challenger 2021 Oeiras 3 Challenger 2021 Umag Open 2022 Rio Open 2022 Miami Masters 2022 Barcelona Open 2022 Madrid Masters 2022 US Open |