Ferrero on Alcaraz: ‘A player’s development should never stop’

“A player’s development should never stop.”

Those are the words of Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, holder of 16 tour-level titles (including Roland Garros in 2003) and currently coach to Carlos Alcaraz, who will square off against Alexander Zverev in Sunday's the Roland Garros final.

“Even the best players in the world have that need to continue working and improving,” explained Ferrero, who watched from the stands Friday as Alcaraz fought off Jannik Sinner in a five-set semi-final. “Otherwise, the monotony and boredom would become too much and you wouldn’t be able to practise with the motivation required to improve.

“It’s true that you don’t have to be as on top of it as when you were 15, 16 or 17. Now he’s a player who’s achieving things and acquiring the necessary experience to realise when he’s failing at something and when he has to improve things… As you build that experience, you just know those things.”

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Ferrero began working with Alcaraz when the player was 15, and their relationship continues to thrive six years later. The coach has been alongside the Murcia native throughout his journey to the top, with the pair winning 13 tour-level titles together and climbing to World No. 1. Now, on the brink of Alcaraz’s third major title, the relationship between them is as strong as ever.

“Our relationship is still the same,” said Ferrero. “It’s a very close relationship that can obviously change at different moments during the day. There are times when I’m purely his coach, but at other times I’m his friend.

“It’s true that kids today, as they get older, they find it harder to always say ‘Yes’. It’s a slow process of maturity that will come naturally as the years pass... And at 21, I don’t think anyone has been mature at that age. Obviously, playing tennis you mature a lot earlier, but I think he still has a ways to go because he’s very young.”

Alcaraz is young, but he is surrounded by a great team that has been with him throughout his career, one that does its utmost to ensure everything runs like clockwork around the two-time major champion.

“We have a lot of experience, we know very well what we’re doing and in that regard we all see eye to eye and the relationship has been very good for a long time,” declared Ferrero. “I think that really helps the team to be united and makes things simpler between us when it comes to understanding each other in the way we work.”

On Sunday in Paris, Alcaraz will have another opportunity to keep growing in every sense. Only Zverev now stands between him and the Coupe des Mousquetaires, and everything that comes with it.

Editor's note: This story was translated from ATPTour.com/es.