Is Alcaraz disproportionately benefiting from coaching?

FeroBango

Legend
I remember the Canada Open match where Ferrero wasn't present, Alcaraz was like a different player, he was clueless about what to do and there were plenty of frustration throughout the match.
He's been frustrated with or without Ferrero since Wimbledon.

I must have listed out a whole bunch of tournaments across surfaces that Raz has won without Ferrero being so much as in the same continent as he. Check it out.
 

ChrisJR3264

Hall of Fame
On the contrary when things go bad, his team sits around like puppies with bones in their mouth.
I disagree. I mean maybe that was the case last night idk.
But last years USO - they were constantly giving him strategies for every single point against med in the semis. It was kind of annoying and embarrassing to witness.
 

FeroBango

Legend
I disagree. I mean maybe that was the case last night idk.
But last years USO - they were constantly giving him strategies for every single point against med in the semis. It was kind of annoying and embarrassing to witness.
Everyone does that to be fair. My Spanish sources say they don't say much apart from positivo, focuus and the like.

I'm not sure how useful they are tbh. Alcaraz was an all-court natural as soon as he picked his racquet up basically. JCF may have lived past his use date.

Also he's pretty decent without JCF around. Has masters 500s and an Olympic gold match without JCF. It was when he came back sid Alcaraz lose actually. He did fine without even his physio around.
 

ppma

Professional
Everyone does that to be fair. My Spanish sources say they don't say much apart from positivo, focuus and the like.

I'm not sure how useful they are tbh. Alcaraz was an all-court natural as soon as he picked his racquet up basically. JCF may have lived past his use date.

Also he's pretty decent without JCF around. Has masters 500s and an Olympic gold match without JCF. It was when he came back sid Alcaraz lose actually. He did fine without even his physio around.
I'm spanish. Love to hear when JCF coaches him.

Sometimes is just "this is the time to raise focus/intensity". Other times it is more tactical like "play lobs with less pace and wait for the chance" (this was against Sinner on IW) or "don't risk the down-the-line, the fast cross-court forehand is harming him too" (this was Cincy), or "place yourself more to the left on the ad return, he's got trouble finding the T", or "play more dropshots so that he does not sit so comfortably behind the baseline".

Things look very different when seen from the outside than during match play.

Don't fool yourselves. Coaching has always existed. Back before coached was allowed they used to employ non-verbal communication to give hints about serving and returning strategies. Also, coaching exists for everyone, not just Carlos.
 

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
I like Alcaraz but I don't like on court coaching. I think that's what made tennis unique in a way because you had to outsmart your opponent and problem solve on the court without your coach's help. It's much more challenging that way. The big 3 all won 20+ Slams like this. Without Ferrero telling him what to do, I have doubts he would be at 4 Slams now.
 

JustMy2Cents

Hall of Fame
Botic probably noticed that and thought: "I'll show you!" :cool:
exactly! this exchange and Raz laughing at it would have lit a fire under Botic.
where was the need for the choke gesture? so stupid. if he had just confined himself to words, nobody would have understood

Raz said he thought he'll get free points and he did not!
they had come in expecting Botic to freeze and totally underestimated him, even 2 sets down.

hopefully learned a lesson !
 

FeroBango

Legend
exactly! this exchange and Raz laughing at it would have lit a fire under Botic.
where was the need for the choke gesture? so stupid. if he had just confined himself to words, nobody would have understood

Raz said he thought he'll get free points and he did not!
they had come in expecting Botic to freeze and totally underestimated him, even 2 sets down.

hopefully learned a lesson !
True humbling.
 
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