Carlos Alcaraz, 20 years old, is the new king of world tennis. If anyone doubted the qualities of the Spanish tennis player, the categorical triumph in the Wimbledon final against the master Novak Djokovic put an end to any suspicion. The career of the young man born in El Palmar, Murcia, is not the work of chance. And Carlitos, as he is treated by those closest to him, has behind him an extensive team that helped him rise to the throne, ranging from coach Juan Carlos Ferrero to the English teacher, through his family, as the newspaper reported yesterday remarked Spanish El Mundo.
On Sunday afternoon, in one of the boxes in the central square of Wimbledon, the presence of Noelia, the English teacher, did not go unnoticed. She lives in London and has been the tennis player’s private tutor for several months. He took advantage of Alcaraz’s presence in the English capital during the Queen’s and Wembley tournaments to speed up the learning process in recent times, without the need for a translator.
The family is also always present, even Jaime, the youngest brother of 12 years. Álvaro, the eldest, 24 years old, always travels with the tennis player, and since he is also good at the sport, he even serves as a training partner. There is also another brother, Sergio, but in this case he is more discreet. Father Carlos and mother Virginia are always present as well, as was seen at Wimbledon.
But the biggest figure is Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former Spanish tennis player (he even won Roland Garros) and now coach of Carlitos. They have been working together since the current world number 1 was 15 years old, an invitation that came to him through Alcaraz’s agent. Ferrero always saw great potential there and felt that his student could go far with work. The results are in sight. And that’s why Ferrero couldn’t hold back the tears as he hugged Carlitos after his Wimbledon win.
Then there is an extensive team led by physical trainer Alberto Lledó, including physiotherapists and physical recuperators, consisting of Álex Sánchez, Fran Rubio, Sergio Hernández and Juanjo Moreno. And also the doctor Juanjo López.
Also part of the team is psychologist Isabel Balaguer, director of the sports psychology research unit at the University of Valencia, who plays a fundamental role in helping Alcaraz in terms of emotional balance, since we must not forget that we are talking about a tennis player of 20 years. The tennis player also has a nutritionist who takes care of his diet.
a Spanish bull
The victory over Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, by the partials of 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6 and 6-4, was the second Grand Slam of Alcaraz’s short career, following victory over the US Open in 2022.
Despite already running in his own name, his physical strength, speed, charisma and magnetism on the field make him a true carbon copy of Rafael Nadal. He still has the aggressiveness of Roger Federer and the coolness of Novak Djokovic. Characteristics that make Alcaraz largely responsible for the end of the Big 3’s dominance.
The accolades have been constant, especially in the past year since he won the US Open. And the latter came through the voice of Novak Djokovic, shortly after the defeat at Wimbledon. “I have never faced a player like him. He is super complete, has an incredible ability to adapt to all surfaces and that is the main key to a long life and a successful career. He has the best of all three the worlds.” [Djokovic, Federer e Nadal]. He has incredible mental resilience and maturity for a 20-year-old. He has the mentality of a Spanish bull, fighting spirit,” said the Croatian tennis player.
Speaking of Nadal, the Spaniard, the great idol of Alcaraz, did not let the victory go unnoticed. “You have given us a lot of pleasure and I am sure that our pioneer in Spanish tennis, Manolo Santana, was also happy today where he is. A very strong hug and enjoy the moment, champion,” he wrote on social networks.
Interestingly, it was with a win in Portugal that Alcaraz entered the top 100 in May 2021, after winning the Oeiras Open 125 in Jamor. In just two years, he became the number 1 in the world and the biggest phenomenon in world tennis.
Alcaraz is as good a player as he is a good person, and still looks innocent for his age. On the Sunday after the victory, he took many photos – one of them with King Philip VI – and was the last to arrive (already almost 11pm) at the dinner/ceremony in a tent in Wimbledon Park, wearing a Louis Vuitton , one of the most recent sponsors.
“Tomorrow [hoje] I have work, but I go back to Murcia in the evening. I stay at home, I need vacation, to rest. I’m going back to Murcia and I feel like a normal boy again”, he let his heart out, leaving a few words of thanks to his team members. “Without them I wouldn’t be here. De Ferrero [o seu treinador]? He is my second father. Thanks to him I am the person and player I am today,” he shot, commenting on the meeting he had with King Filipe: “We are almost friends [risos]. It was great having him here. We talked a bit and I admit I was more nervous with him than when I played in the final.”
Source: DN
