Carlos Alcaraz achieved more heights in 2024 by extending his Grand Slam tally to four. However, his coaching staff already plans to add to his tally by working on his game. Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, has revealed that he and the rest of the Spaniard’s coaching team are working on a key “tweak” to Alcaraz’s game ahead of the 2025 season. The World No. 3 is set to kick off the new year at the Australian Open, beginning on January 12th.
At just 21, the four-time Grand Slam champion aims to become the youngest man in history to complete a Career Grand Slam with a victory in Melbourne before defending his Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles later in the year.
Alcaraz’s pre-season preparations are well underway, with the young star training intensively at home in Murcia over the Christmas period before heading Down Under for the season’s first Grand Slam. The 21-year-old hopes to become the youngest player ever to achieve the Career Grand Slam, i.e., win all four Grand Slam tournaments.
Ferrero Pinpoints Areas for Improvement
Speaking to Punto de Break, Ferrero, a former World No. 1 and long-time mentor to Alcaraz, highlighted the serve as a specific area of focus this pre-season.
“Carlos came with a lot of enthusiasm; the break did him great, and the two exhibitions helped him get back on track,” Ferrero explained.
“The first week focused on physical adaptation and conditioning, along with tests with Babolat and Nike for shoes. The second week was more about volume, with three-hour sessions on the court and higher-intensity training. Next week, we’ll start focusing on specifics.”
Ferrero revealed that refining Alcaraz’s serve is a key priority. “We are trying to tweak a bit on the serve, to give it more rhythm, make it smoother and more relaxed. Then, we’ll fine-tune small details, like the forehand, which we want to be more decisive in key moments. We need to enhance his DNA and address his weaknesses.”
Ferrero praised Alcaraz’s dedication and professionalism, adding, “Carlos is very aware of what he needs to improve each year. I see him maturing and approaching things with more thought. He knows he needs to address those ups and downs in matches, which are more mental than tennis-related. Our goal is continuous evolution — a player who scores a ’10’ in nearly every aspect of the game.”
The 2024 season was remarkable for Alcaraz, as he became just the sixth man in the Open Era to complete the “Channel Slam” by winning both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. He also claimed titles in Indian Wells and Beijing and secured victories over World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in all three of their meetings on the ATP Tour.
However, it wasn’t a flawless season. The 21-year-old suffered an early exit at the US Open and disappointing runs in Cincinnati and Paris-Bercy. Additionally, injuries kept him out of much of the clay-court swing.
These setbacks contributed to Alcaraz finishing the year ranked third in the ATP standings, trailing World No. 1 Jannik Sinner by nearly 5,000 points.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
