The beginning of the 2025 season is imminent and the highest gamers are refining their preparation with their respective groups. After taking part in a few exhibition matches in america in early December, Carlos Alcaraz began working towards exhausting collectively together with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and won’t cease even throughout the Christmas holidays.
The present world quantity 3 has had a really optimistic 2024, during which he turned the youngest participant ever to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the identical yr, however his season has been considerably ‘overshadowed’ by the exploits of his nice rival Jannik Sinner. The Italian ace has been just about unstoppable this yr, successful eight titles and struggling simply six losses, three of which have been in opposition to the Spaniard. Though Carlitos has received two Main titles in 2024, his hole to Jannik quantities to virtually 5000 factors.
As if that weren’t sufficient, the 4-time Grand Slam champion needed to endure the overtaking of Sascha Zverev within the ATP rating proper on the finish of the season. Which means that Alcaraz could should face Sinner already within the semifinals on the 2025 Australian Open.
Carlos Alcaraz, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
The 21-year-old from Murcia has large expectations for 2025, during which he may have a brand new coach along with Ferrero. The previous world #1 can even be capable of depend on the assist of Samuel Lopez, who left Pablo Carreno Busta after a few years by accepting Carlos’ provide.
The Spaniard’s schedule within the first a part of 2025 shall be completely different from lately. After the primary Main of the season, Carlitos is not going to play the tournaments on purple clay in South America however will comply with a distinct schedule.
The younger Spanish ace will take part within the prestigious Rotterdam ATP 500, the Doha ATP 500 and possibly the Dubai ATP 500. After these occasions, he’ll play an exhibition match with Frances Tiafoe in Puerto Rico in early March earlier than the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami.
Ferrero on Alcaraz’s pre-season
In an extended interview with ‘Punto de Break’, Ferrero commented on Alcaraz’s pre-season: “Carlos Alcaraz came with a lot of enthusiasm. The break did him great, and the two exhibitions got him a bit on track to get here. The first week focused on adaptation physical conditioning, along with tests with Babolat and Nike for shoes.”
Juan Carlos continued: “The second week was more about volume, spending three hours on the court and facing more intense training sessions. Next week, we will start to focus more on specifics.”
Carlos Alcaraz© Stream screenshot
Ferrero is aware of that Alcaraz has to enhance in a number of facets if he desires to take care of the tempo of Sinner, who has left everybody speechless within the final twelve months. Regardless of being immensely gifted, Carlitos nonetheless has ups and downs throughout the season and this negatively impacts his rating.
In 2024, the Spaniard received the Indian Wells Masters 1000 for the second yr in a row however his performances in Masters 1000 tournaments weren’t so good. In this sort of tournaments, the 21-year-old from Murcia has obtained ‘solely’ 75% of wins struggling a number of surprising defeats. As well as, the previous world No. 1 struggled rather a lot to digest the defeat in opposition to Novak Djokovic within the closing of the Paris Olympics and was eradicated already within the second spherical on the US Open.
Additional assist
The assistance of a high coach like Samuel Lopez may be very helpful subsequent yr, additionally giving him new motivations. Throughout an interview with ‘Punto de Break’, Lopez mirrored on this new expertise: “With Carlos, we aim for everything; the feeling of going to a Grand Slam with the intention of winning it. I have been in quarterfinals and semifinals of these tournaments, in Davis Cup finals, in matches for an Olympic medal, but I also want to be in a Grand Slam final. At least I want to work towards that possibility or to be world No. 1. I am ambitious; I don’t settle.”
It was not straightforward for Lopez to speak this resolution to Carreno Busta: “He was a bit taken aback, but he understood. What I couldn’t do was be with Pablo and Carlos at the same time; besides, it wouldn’t have been ethical, and in terms of time, I wouldn’t have been able to manage it. It was a decision based on my family and my professional future. It hurts in my soul; I got emotional talking to him, but Pablo told me to be calm, that in my situation, he would have done the same.”
Carlos Alcaraz, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
The primary event during which Samuel shall be in Carlos’ field would be the Rotterdam ATP 500, which the Spaniard will play for the primary time in his profession.
