“I see Carlos as a mix of the Big Three,” said Craig O’Shannessy, an Australian tennis analyst who was part of Struff’s team last year. “You have the mentality and tenacity of Nadal and the exquisite timing and will to come into the net with Federer. And then you have the aggressive basic game like Djokovic: the power and flexibility to hit hard on both sides from the backcourt.
For now, Alcaraz says his aim is to win one of three remaining Grand Slams in 2022. He was beaten in the third round of this year’s Australian Open in a tiebreaker at the fifth set by Matteo Berrettini, double fault on match point.
“I think it was the right time to lose a game,” Ferrero said. “Maybe he could have won and gone to the semi-finals like Berrettini, but maybe it wouldn’t have been as helpful as a loss.”
Four months later, after four titles, coach and student seem less inclined to see the bright side of defeat. Ferrero has already come all the way to Paris, and as Alcaraz spoke at the Villena academy, he did so to a room full of Ferrero trophies, including the smaller Coupe des Mousquetaires model on display to the men’s champion at Roland Garros.
“They should have given him the big one,” Alcaraz said with a chuckle. “I was a little young to remember some of them, but this place is full of memories and important trophies for Juan Carlos. It is obviously a source of inspiration. I hope one day I can match or surpass it.
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