“Sometimes I think you want what you don't have”

Two days before announcing his split from his coach, Juan Carlos FerreroATP leader Carlos Alcaraz spoke in Miami with Andrea Petkoviccareer Grand Slam semifinalist and former world No. 9.

Germanca humorously prefaced the 5 minutes selected from the discussion with the six-time champion in major tournaments. “Yes, I went to Miami. I stayed with Carlos Alcaraz. I interviewed him as no one has ever interviewed anyone in this world. And two days later he fired Ferrero“, Petko said with a smile.

“But that doesn't matter. He was great, jovial as always, and of course we're going to show what we talked to him about,” she added, with the clip featured on the Tennis Channel's Big T podcast.

Andrea began by asking him how the offseason was, after Alcaraz played his last match of 2025 in the Tournament of Champions final, losing to Jannik Sinnerand had some muscle problems.

Carlos Alcaraz: “My body was asking me to go to the gym”

“After the game I went to Bologna, trying to play for the Spanish team. Yes, I tried, I did some tests to see how harmful what I had was and it was disappointing. So I came home and tried to recover. And that's what I did, I relaxed and recovered. I really needed it“, said the Iberian.

He added that his batteries were charged and he was hungry, he couldn't wait to start training again. “My body was asking me to do something, go to the gym or something like that. I was, for four or five days, trying to take advantage as much as possible. I can't sit around, I get stressed,” explained Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz in the gym Photo: Instagram

On the Big T podcast, Boris Becker stated that 2025 was Alcaraz's best year. Does Carlos contradict him? “No, not this time,” he replied with a laugh. “He is right. I think this season I played very good tennis, I was consistent. It was something I wanted to do, to play well in many tournaments in a row, and I did it from the clay season until the end. I think it was the best season I've had so far“.

The discussion then moved to football because the World Cup is being played in 2026. “I can't wait, to be honest. I think Spain can get a very good result, although there are other nations with very good teams, Argentina, Holland, France, Germany. A lot. I'm a bit worried, but I think Spain will be at the top, I'm confident,” said Carlos.

Carlos Alcaraz and celebrity: “I like it when people stop me”

The last question concerned the superstar status that Alcaraz, together with Jannik Sinner, has acquired in the recent period, becoming part of pop culture. “Honestly, you get used to it. Sometimes I think you want what you don't have, so sometimes I wish I wasn't recognized. Yes, I want to walk around alone, do what any normal person does, but at the same time, it's good to be where I am. That's why I'm not complaining. I love what I do. I love when people stop me and tell me that I am an inspiration to their children, to their lives“, elaborated Alcaraz. “It's an amazing feeling.”

Carlos Alcaraz and Andrea Petkovic YouTube Capture

He added that the matches he played against Jannik are among those that attract a lot of viewers, probably people who have never watched tennis before.

Brad Gilbert then asked Petko if she had the feeling that Alcaraz already knew at that point about the split with Ferrero, which materialized in two days. Germanca replied that she thought a lot about this aspect, but that she could not give a firm answer.