Jannik Sinner surprises Carlos Alcaraz's former coach, who has a woodworm
He guided Carlos Alcaraz to the No. 1 spot in world tennis as coach, but his clinical eye has also focused in recent months on Jannik Sinner. And Juan Carlos Ferrero, who parted ways with the Murcia outfielder last December, expressed confidence that the two friend-rivals will continue to dominate tournaments and ATP rankings in the years to come. Although, in the Alto Adige champion’s recent performances, there is one aspect that seems to have amazed the 46-year-old Iberian coach.
“Between Alcaraz and Sinner there is a slight difference, but not that big,” Ferrero said in an interview with ‘Marca.’ “If both are at the top of their form, the two of them are currently superior to anyone else. However, it must also be said that some colleagues can challenge them very seriously. Zverev has already shown that he is not far from them, and even Fritz can do it to challenge them if he is inspired. Not to mention Novak Djokovic, who remains a force to be reckoned with.”
Just Djokovic has created a bug in Ferrero’s mind, however, regarding Sinner. “It surprises me how he beat him at the Australian Open,” the Spanish coach noted, “also because in their previous challenges he had won Jannik clearly. I am a little worried about his physical condition, since he had already faced some problems at the beginning of the tournament. Then it is true that Nole is always Nole, beating him remains difficult for anyone when he plays at 100%. After all, the same thing happened to Carlos Alcaraz the year before as well.”
Anything else, however, that Alcaraz himself made upon arrival in Monte Carlo. “I was surprised to see Sinner here after wins in Indian Wells and Miami. It means that he is well physically and is ready to win anywhere,” observed the No. 1 ATP ranking at the media day of the Masters 1000 hosted on the Principality’s courts.
Between him and Sinner, moreover, the first official confrontation of the season is still missing: “I hope to face him here, because we haven’t met yet this year. I would like to challenge him on clay.” It is precisely on this surface that Alcaraz is called upon to defend a very heavy points haul: the successes in Monte Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros, as well as the Barcelona final lost to Holger Rune.
