‘Second Service’ Tennis News: Alcaraz dismisses Federer coaching questions & Medvedev admits need to play better to regain number one
Looking back on the big tennis news in our exclusive ‘Second Service’… Carlos Alcaraz dismissed a question about taking on Federer as his coach while Daniil Medvedev underlined the need to play better in order to regain number one, plus more…
To start, world number one Carlos Alcaraz underlined his respect for coach Carlos Ferrero as he batted away questions about being under the tutelage of idol Roger Federer.
As a guest on a Spanish show, Alcaraz was asked whether he would accept the Swiss as his coach if he was offered the opportunity, given his impending retirement from the sport on Friday. The youngster was instead quick to praise Ferrero.
”I couldn’t [replace Ferrero with Federer]. I’ve always said that Juan Carlos is my second father, I wouldn’t change him for the world.”
In other news, world number four Daniil Medvedev said he ”did not feel much” when he relinquished control of being top of the ATP Rankings saying he needs to do better if he wants to return there.
“The ranking is the consequence of your results and if we take the American summer, for example, I did not take enough points to stay No. 1, or even No. 2 or 3. Whereas Casper, Carlos, Rafa, of course with the two Grand Slams he won at the start of the year, they took a lot more points. So it’s just logical. I have no feelings about it, no reason to cry. I can only tell myself that I have to do better if I want to find this place in the future.”
Read what else Medvedev had to say here
Furthermore, Roger Federer would love to close out his career in a doubles match with friend and greatest rival Rafael Nadal.
The 20-time Slam champion confirmed that due to his lack of match fitness, in all likelihood his last career match would come in a doubles rubber at this week’s Laver Cup in London.
“We’ll see with who it is,” Federer said in a special pre-tournament press conference. “I’m nervous going in because I haven’t played in so long. I hope I can be somewhat competitive.”
Moving on, Garbine Muguruza admits she is looking forward to seeing the end of the current season as she continues to struggle for confidence.
Muguruza came into 2022 in good form and with high-hopes for a trophy-laden campaign. That hasn’t happened, though, instead with her feeling a huge sense of frustration in her performances.
“It’s been a tough season, a little bit of a roller coaster,” Garbine Muguruza admitted. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able, with these last tournaments, to have a different feeling. That’s my goal.
And lastly, John McEnroe has found a simple solution to the GOAT debate in tennis by splitting the discussion into the different surfaces.
Fans of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have argued for years, often heatedly, about who should be considered the greatest player of all time.
McEnroe, though, simply says that it is all three of them.
“The greatest grass court player of all time is Roger [Federer], the greatest hard court player is Novak [Djokovic] and the greatest clay court player is Rafa [Nadal],” McEnroe said.
Read what else McEnroe had to say ahead of the Laver Cup.
🎾 Read >> Breaking tennis news
🎾 Follow >> 24/7 LIVE scores
🎾 Free >> Receive our legendary newsletter
🎾 Join >> Tennishead CLUB, the world’s only virtual tennis club
🎾 Social >>Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube
🎾 Order >> World’s best tennis magazine
🎾 Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted retail partner