"We need to enhance his DNA and work on his weaknesses”: Juan Carlos Ferrero shares vision for Carlos Alcaraz’ growth

Juan Carlos Ferrero, coach of Carlos Alcaraz, hopes his protégé will continue improving and aims for an even better 2025 season. The former world No. 1 addressed the weaknesses of the 21-year-old, whom he believes still has much more to show. They are working on finding greater consistency on the Tour.

Alcaraz ended 2024 with two more Grand Slam titles, achieving the Channel Slam by winning both the French Open and Wimbledon, becoming the 6th player to accomplish this feat in the same season. However, he also faced several surprising defeats and finished the year ranked world No. 3.

Jannik Sinner's incredible season partially overshadowed Alcaraz's achievements. The Italian built a significant points lead with a remarkable 73-6 record and eight titles. In contrast, the Spaniard had a more modest 54-13 record and four titles. Currently, Sinner leads the rankings by 4,800 points and has a cushion that ensures his top spot on the ATP rankings for at least a couple of months.

One of Alcaraz's goals for 2025 is to maintain a high level throughout the season and avoid unexpected losses like those that impacted him this year. Early exits, such as the first round in Cincinnati, the second round at the US Open, and the round of 16 at the Paris Masters, were some of his setbacks in 2024.

His coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, spoke with Punto de Break and discussed the adjustments being made to Alcaraz's game to start the year strong. “We are trying to tweak a little something in his serve to give it more rhythm, to make it smoother and more relaxed. Then we’ll refine small details, like his forehand; we want it to be more decisive at key moments. We need to enhance his DNA and work on his weaknesses.”

“The difference (compared to last year) is that we have less time. Finishing so late is what it is; the calendar is very demanding,” added the former Roland Garros champion. “We’d love to have more time to organise breaks better so that he arrives fresher at certain events. But since we can’t change it, we adapt.”

Ferrero noted that Alcaraz knows there’s still plenty of room for improvement but is in the right mindset to take the next step forward. “Carlos is very aware of what he needs to improve each year. I see him becoming more mature every day as a professional and approaching things more thoughtfully. I like how he’s tackling this preseason; he’s very focused on improving the things that didn’t go so well this year.”

“Those ups and downs during matches, for instance—he knows he needs to address them because they’re more mental than technical. His tennis level is incredibly high. As he matures mentally and commits to that improvement, I believe he’ll reach the next level. Every season we aim to make progress in that area, so let’s see how 2025 goes.”

“We aim for continuous evolution. What does that mean? We want a player who’s a ‘10’ in almost everything. Carlos has extremely high numbers in some areas and lower ones in others,” the former world No. 1 added. “We need to strengthen his strengths and improve his weaknesses. Obviously, those ups and downs on the court are one of his flaws, but they’re often related to how fresh or motivated he feels. That’s why we aim to ensure he’s motivated for every tournament, bringing his best tennis every week.”