Carlos Alcaraz spoke about the former coach without pronouncing his name: “Now I have a say, I can express my opinion”
ATP World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz spoke about his relationship with his former coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero (46), on the official podcast of the ATP 1,000 tournament in Madrid, a competition currently underway on clay in the Spanish capital.
Carlos Alcaraz lost the first world position PHOTO EPA
“Today, I approach everything more calmly“, explained the Iberian, who added that he was just trying to have fun on the pitch: “That's all that matters to me, the results follow“. A clear indication that Alcaraz was not comfortable with Ferrero in the box. The two parted at the end of last year on less than amicable terms, although they did not throw any harsh words at each other in public.
Carlitos never directly mentions his former mentor, but his words are well-aimed. “Now I have a say, I can express my opinion, make decisions and communicate what I need. Now I decide when I have to stop or when it's time to train.”
The words were spoken on the official podcast of the Madrid Open, a tournament in which the athlete from Murcia cannot compete due to a wrist injury that puts his whole clay season in jeopardy, leading up to Roland Garros.
“In the past, pressure and nerves took over“, added the winner of seven Grand Slam titles.
Alcaraz then spoke on the podcast about various other things, such as his love for home and his hometown. “When I go back there, it's like I'm the kid I once was“, confessed the athlete.
“In a way, I forget that I'm a tennis player and I just go back to being the person I've always been. Doing the simplest things in the world with my friends is what relaxes me, what keeps me grounded“, he added.
Among the Spaniard's hobbies is golf, which he seems tempted to turn into a job: “I need to get to a 5 handicap in golf, that's my goal for the end of the year. Right now I have around 12“.
