"What do they want? For him to win every tournament?": David Ferrer says too much expectation placed on Carlos Alcaraz
ATP
Carlos Alcaraz suffers from the effect of Rafael Nadal's brilliance for so many years in the belief of David Ferrer which has led to over expectation for him to be winning every week.
Alcaraz won his first Masters 1000 title in over a year and he could win another title at the Barcelona Open on Sunday but Ferrer said that this issue is also down to culture harboured by the great Spaniard.
He said that Alcaraz should be lauded more for having won four Grand Slams at only 21 and should be celebrated as such by tennis fans not slated.
"In Spain, we're like that; it's a cultural thing. How many times did people retire Rafa after an injury and then he came back better?" he said to Eurosport Spain.
"Carlos is 21 and has won four Grand Slams, an icon at 21! What do they want? For him to win every tournament? Carlos is a special player, on Rafa's level, so let's enjoy him."
But he said that part of the issue also remains social media and the fact that players are easily accessible something he didn't have in his day.
"Nowadays, with social media, [the players] are very exposed, and they're also very young players. It's not the same thing criticising him as criticising me at 43 [years old].
"When I was his age, I didn't have the maturity I have now. As mature as Carlos is, he's still very young, so it's normal for it to affect him a little."
But also he zoned in on the fact that Alcaraz is able to win still at his B level as he did at times in Monte-Carlo with a better level ironically showed at home this week in Barcelona.
"That has a lot of value. These are different players; they have a very high level. The same thing happened to Rafa, [Novak] Djokovic, or Roger [Federer].
"In my case, I couldn't afford not to play well. I could play poorly in an ATP 250 tournament and win, but in a Masters 1000..."
Match Info:
Carlos Alcaraz - Holger Rune
Start time (local): Sun, 20 Apr, 4:00 PM
Start time (your time): Sun, 20 Apr, 10:00 PM
Court: Pista Rafa Nadal
Tournament: Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell
Round: Final
Head-to-Head
| Alcaraz | Rune | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 3 | 1 |
| Win Streak | 2 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 2 | 13 |
| Race Ranking | 1 | 15 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 2 | 9 (+4) |
| Live Race Ranking | 1 | 10 (+5) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 21 (5 May 2003) | 21 (29 Apr 2003) |
| Birthplace | El Palmar, Murcia, Spain | Gentofte, Denmark |
| Residence | Villena, Spain | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Height | 6'0" (183cm) | - |
| Weight | 163lbs (74kg) | - |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2018 | - |
| Coach | Juan Carlos Ferrero (2019–), Samuel López (2024–) | Kenneth Carlsen, Lars Christensen |
| YTD W/L | 22-4 (85%) | 15-6 (71%) |
| YTD Titles | 2 | - |
| Career Titles | 18 | 4 |
| Prize Money | US $40,231,787 - 8th all-time in earnings | US $11,870,161 |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
C Alcaraz d H Rune Riyadh Exhibition -6-4 | 6-2 16 Oct 2024 |
||
|
C Alcaraz d H Rune Wimbledon - Quarterfinal7-6 | 6-4 | 6-4 12 Jul 2023 |
||
|
H Rune d C Alcaraz ATP Paris - Quarterfinal6-3 | 6-6 4 Nov 2022 |
||
|
C Alcaraz d H Rune Next Gen ATP Finals -4-3 | 4-2 | 4-0 9 Nov 2021 |
||
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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