"Extremely different": Andy Roddick praise coach Juan Carlos Ferrero for developing 'champion' Carlos Alcaraz

Former world number one Andy Roddick has praised Juan Carlos Ferrero, the coach of Spain’s young tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, for his incredible work off the court with the reigning world number two.

The 21-year-old is already regarded as one of the most highly rated players in men’s tennis's singles category, along with Italy’s Jannik Sinner.

Despite being so young, Alcaraz has already made his mark in men’s tennis. He recently won the French Open after beating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final in a five-set thriller with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. It was his third Grand Slam despite being aged just 21, an incredible feat.

Roddick, who is also a former world number one and ended his professional career with one Grand Slam to his name, was recently quoted in a report in which he heaped praise on Alcaraz’s coach, Ferrero.

According to the former American tennis star, Ferrero is one of the reasons why Alcaraz has achieved so much success at such a young age. One of his incredible qualities is not showing attitude while coaching arguably the most exciting talent in men’s tennis.

"[Juan Carlos] Ferrero too often gets lumped into this celebrity coaching thing,” he said. “I don't think I could go work with a 14-year-old to develop them into a champion that is not the same as someone coming in with a 21-22 year. He has developed a Grand Slam champion as a celebrity coach that is extremely different.”

Ferreroa, who is also a former world number one, ended his professional career in 2012 after winning just one Grand Slam.

His only major triumph came in 2003 when he defeated Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands in the final of the French Open in straight sets with a score of 6–1, 6–3, 6–2. As a coach, Ferrero worked with Germany from 2017 to 2018 and has worked with Alcaraz since 2019.