Carlos Alcaraz having wild aspirations to reach Novak Djokovic records 'neither positive or negative' says Juan Carlos Ferrero: "He knows that it is really complicated"
ATPThursday, 22 February 2024 at 23:30
Juan Carlos
Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz's coach, shared his opinion on whether his protégé's
goal of surpassing Novak Djokovic's records is a positive or negative
aspiration. The former world No. 1 acknowledged that thinking about surpassing
Djokovic is a "long-term" goal and will be challenging for the young
Spaniard.
Days ago,
during his participation in the Argentina Open, Alcaraz reiterated his
ambitions to eventually surpass 'Nole': "Obviously, I keep thinking about
Nole’s 24 Grand Slams, that’s clear, but right now Djokovic and [Jannik] Sinner
I think are the players to beat: they are at a very high level that few people
can beat them," he told Ole.
“But since
I’m a very ambitious guy and I always want to think big, and I dream big,
obviously Djokovic’s 24 is a goal at the end of my career. Now let’s wait to
see where I get to, because maybe I get to five, maybe I stay at two.
“However,
it is something that is inevitable to think about. I am very competitive and
that is also what drives me to the highest level to try to be at the same level
as the Big Three. The truth is that I dream big,” Alcaraz said.
Ferrero's response to Alcaraz's ambitious
Alcaraz's
coach responded to an interview with Clay Tennis, in which he commented on
Alcaraz's words regarding the records: "It is neither positive nor
negative; they are objectives that he has in the very long term. We know the
difficulty that something like that requires. It comes from the character that
he has to think very big,” the Spaniard said.
“That he
can get it? He knows that it is really complicated, he has to do things super,
super well to achieve the objectives. It’s something that he has, what he
thinks about and what makes him think that he can achieve something like that,
it drives him mentally. Welcome to that.”
Additionally,
they asked the former French Open champion if he believes Alcaraz could achieve
his goals by 2039: “(Laughs) These are answers that I can’t give you, I live
day by day, the day to day improvement. The day-to-day improvement, that I
would like to? Yes, that you are going to achieve it? It’s a very complicated
thing. Who can say for sure,” Ferrero continued.
“I think
that with the players that there are now and will be, the competitiveness
between them will be quite close. I don’t know, I really don’t know.”
Alcaraz's Golden Swing campaign
The
20-year-old young star chose to play on clay in South America before the
Sunshine Double for the second consecutive year. However, luck was not on
Alcaraz's side this time as he fell in the semifinals of the Argentina Open
against Nicolas Jarry. Later, at the Rio Open, he exited the tournament after
just two games, retiring due to injury in his opening match against Thiago
Monteiro.
They asked
Ferrero if Alcaraz will play in South America again next year: “I can’t answer
that; it’s something we’ll see later. But it’s true that at some point, I’d
like him to go on the fast court tour; he can do it very well,” he said.
“And you
don’t change the surface after Australia and then change again and then go back
to clay. At some point we will change,” Ferrero concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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