‘Too much pressure and expectation’ on Carlos Alcaraz now, warns coach
The coach of Carlos Alcaraz, Juan Carlos Ferrero, believes the Spaniard’s historic Miami Open victory may be ”putting too much pressure” on the teenager.
Carlos Alcaraz recently became the youngest ever Miami Open champion and the third youngest Masters-level winner in history by defeating Norway’s Casper Ruud in the final.
Speaking to Marca, Carlos Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who is a former world number one, discussed the World number 11’s Miami Open victory, aspirations for the upcoming clay court season and the tennis world’s reaction to the 18 year old’s impressive title win.
“These days of rest have served to refresh the legs, but also the head. Making many calculations is putting too much pressure on Carlos’ shoulders. We know that it could be a very good season on clay, but we have to be careful. We have to continue working well, not being overconfident, generating good tennis, letting what you have time flow and being fresh every week”.
“Alcaraz has already fulfilled the first objective of the year, so it’s time to put more into it, but calmly. Coming from winning a tournament as important as Miami and also doing it in Indian Wells and winning in Rio, well, it makes expectations go up, but there are to think week by week. Each week is different, there is nothing automatic.”
Discussing the change of surface from hard court to clay, Ferrero believes that it is Carlos Alacaraz’s ”desire” which is the key factor for the teenagers success for the clay court season ahead.
”Now again a Masters 1,000, that from the first round all the matches are difficult and you have to generate good tennis, with a change of surface, with a few days of preparation … But Carlos’ desire will make up for all this. He’s going to be in shape. He starts Tuesday or Wednesday and we hope to train well on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to pick up the pace, get into the dynamics of playing on clay and stay fresh”.
Despite Ferrero believing there is now greater pressure for Alcaraz to contend with following the title win in Miami, he also believes that his ATP rivals have a greater level of respect for the right-handed Spaniard.
“For a year and a half, tennis players have known that, when it’s Carlos’s turn, it’s not an easy round. He was sticking his head in the tournaments that gave them an invitation and now, after winning an important tournament, they respect him more than before “.
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