"Depends on how he's watching me": Carlos Alcaraz shares what coach Juan Carlos Ferrero tells him the most ahead of Miami Open

Carlos Alcaraz shared the advice given to him by Juan Carlos Ferrero during matches and emphasized the importance he places on the former world No. 1's on-court support. Alcaraz's relationship with Ferrero has always been deeply close, and Carlitos doesn't hesitate to praise him whenever he can.

This time around, he's feeling his best about his tennis in several months after defending his Indian Wells title and clinching his first trophy since the 2023 Wimbledon. The 20-year-old tennis star put an end to Jannik Sinner's 16-0 streak in 2024 and then defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final to add another Masters 1000 title to his collection.

The current world No. 2 addressed a press conference upon his arrival at the Miami Open and highlighted Ferrero's influence on his level, including what happens sometimes in the midst of a match: “It depends on how he’s watching me. If I’m struggling a lot, if I’m in problems or not, he tells me depending on the moments,” Alcaraz told reporters Tuesday in Miami. “But I can tell you one of the things he tells me most is, ‘Smile.’”

“He means a lot to me,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously it’s a great support when I have him in the box. His support is really special to me. It’s been a long path together, I think six years now. It’s been a long journey together. We started when I was playing in juniors, he did Grade 4 [tournaments] travelling with me.

“We’ve done great work together. I spend a lot of time with him at tournaments and [outside] the tournaments as well. We have a really good relationship in the professional part, but the personal part as well. I’ve learned a lot from him.”

Carlos Alcaraz's strong performance at the Tennis Paradise raises hopes of getting his season back on track. In Miami, he will aim to become the eighth man to achieve the Sunshine Double, a feat last accomplished by Roger Federer in 2017: Principio del formulario

“I’m feeling great, with a lot of confidence right now,” Alcaraz said. “I think I'm playing great tennis. I’m really happy to be here in Miami again, a really special place for me, where I’ve shown great tennis the past years. I’m feeling great physically and mentally and I’m ready for this tournament,” he concluded.