Former Grand Slam champion and current tennis coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has advised Carlos Alcaraz to train relentlessly to match the standards set by competitors like Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner. Despite being just 20 years old, Alcaraz has already left a significant mark on tennis, securing victories in prestigious events such as the US Open and Wimbledon, along with four masters titles. Currently ranked second globally, Alcaraz faces stiff competition from Djokovic and the rising star Sinner, who has shown exceptional performance in the 2024 season. At just 22 years old, Jannik Sinner, who clinched his first Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open, has now secured his second title of the year at Rotterdam. His recent triumph adds to a remarkable streak of three consecutive ATP 500 wins, including Beijing and Vienna. Juan Carlos Ferrero, coach of Carlos Alcaraz, acknowledges that they have been closely monitoring Sinner’s development and preparing accordingly. “We’ve been observing Sinner’s progress for quite some time now, and we anticipated this moment,” Ferrero stated. “We recognized his potential to contend for Grand Slam titles a couple of years ago.

While there may have been doubts about his physicality due to his slender build, he has proven himself through rigorous training and maturity.” Ferrero emphasizes Sinner’s status as a formidable contender in all tournaments, likening his significance to that of Alcaraz. Moreover, Ferrero draws parallels between the budding rivalry of Alcaraz and Sinner and the legendary trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

“I see Sinner’s rise as reminiscent of when Rafa and Roger emerged, spurring each other on until Novak entered the scene, now playing a similar role to push Carlos and Sinner forward,” Ferrero reflected. “Last year, when Novak showcased his exceptional level at the Masters, I told Carlos, ‘Look at that. Now we must train relentlessly to match Novak’s standard. Jannik is doing it, and we must too.’ Carlos responded eagerly, saying, ‘Yes, let’s give it our all.’ It’s a motivating factor… Among these three, they must set the pace for others, like Zverev, Tsitsipas, Rune, they must inspire each other.”