‘That’s the goal’ – Coach reveals 2022 ambitions for ATP star Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz enjoyed an impressive breakout ATP season in 2021, finishing in the world’s top 40 and with higher expectations for 2022.

The 18-year-old won his first ATP title in Umag, Croatia in July, becoming the youngest ATP tour level title winner since compatriot and legend Rafael Nadal did so when 14 days younger in 2004.

Alcaraz later won the Next Gen ATP Finals on his first appearance.

While admittedly an exhibition tournament carrying no ranking points, it is an event previously won by world number four Stefanos Tsitsipas and world number 10 Jannik Sinner.

Now, his coach and former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero has revealed the goals for Alcaraz’s 2022 season.

“The main challenge, as I have said on other occasions, is to maintain the level of tennis that he played in the last part of the season,” the 2003 Roland Garros champion told Greek publication Gazzetta.

“To be competitive against the best tennis players, that is important for his performance.

“It will allow us to get closer to the top 15 in the rankings. That would be the goal for next year.”

Currently ranked 32nd in the world, Alcaraz jumped from world number 141 to that position in 2021.

The Spaniard accumulated a win-loss record of 32-17 over the year, coming 21st on the ATP tour in terms of match wins.

Alcaraz reached the second round of the Australian Open in 2021, meaning he would only need to win one match there in 2022 to defend those ranking points.

He came through as a qualifier for the 2021 event, but will likely be seeded at the 2022 tournament should his ranking remain around 32nd in the world.

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