Adriano Panatta points to Carlos Alcaraz’s serious mistake: "I would be happy for him, but less so for Sinner…"

Former Italian tennis player Adriano Panatta commented bluntly on Carlos Alcaraz’s forfeit in Madrid after wrist trouble. Many accuse the Spanish tennis player of not handling himself as well as he could, and Panatta is also of this opinion to La Domenica Sportiva: “In my opinion he was wrong to leave Ferrero, who is tough, difficult, but he is also a great tennis connoisseur.”

“Carlos at 21-22 years old, with all the trophies he has won, has become more enterprising, he wanted to change and he made a mistake,” Panatta continued. “I would be happy for him (and less so for Sinner) if he came back with Ferrero. The former Azzurro then described the special bond that is created between the tennis player and the coach: “The relationship between coaches and players is visceral: coaches give up their lives for an incredible dedication to the players they coach and truly follow every day giving up their family.”

“A coach first of all must understand about tennis and must not have gaps. They don’t have to be parents or confessors but they have to be able to get you that leap in quality in line with your age. If you stay for your whole career with a father coach there is a risk that the relationship can tear.”

Panatta then returned to the difference in mentality between the two great champions: “From what I see, Sinner has an absolute dedication to tennis, everything is programmed to get the maximum result. He looks like a Martian. Alcaraz has a different conception of happiness, he is happy to go to Ibiza, to have fun with friends. And that can make a difference in the long run. Me, would I have won more if I had trained more? Maybe, but would I have been happier? Keep in mind that mental strength depletes before physical strength, contrary to common opinion. Borg, who never took off from tennis, quit at 26; I lasted until 33.”