Carlos Alcaraz’s rise in men’s tennis has been nothing short of extraordinary, especially considering the enormous expectations surrounding him from the moment he appeared on the professional scene. From the earliest stages of his development, the young Spaniard was viewed as a prodigy—someone destined for greatness. Many experts predicted he would become a major champion, but fulfilling such bold forecasts is never simple, particularly for someone still in his teens. Managing that level of pressure required maturity, discipline, and a strong support system, all of which Alcaraz has benefitted from through the guidance of the experienced team around him.
Now 22 years old and representing Murcia with pride, Alcaraz has already compiled a list of accomplishments that most players can only dream of over an entire career. His résumé includes six Grand Slam trophies and eight Masters 1000 titles, an astonishing achievement for a player so young. Beyond the silverware, he finished the season as the world number one—a testament to the consistency that had previously eluded him. The 2025 calendar year finally showcased his ability to maintain a high level throughout long stretches, addressing one of the few criticisms that followed him during his early breakthroughs.
The opening months of 2025 had been somewhat disappointing relative to his high standards, as he struggled to find his rhythm and fell short of expectations. However, once spring arrived, Alcaraz rediscovered his sharpness and became nearly unbeatable. He reached the final in every tournament he entered for the remainder of the season, with the only exception being the Paris Masters 1000, where Cameron Norrie managed to halt him in the second round. This momentum carried him all the way to the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, where he advanced to the championship match but was ultimately defeated by Jannik Sinner, one of his strongest rivals.
Unfortunately, an injury prevented him from competing in the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, closing his season on an bittersweet note. Still, the overall campaign reinforced his status as one of the most dominant forces on the tour.
In an interview with Punto de Break, Antonio Cascales—formerly a coach to Juan Carlos Ferrero—reflected on the superb work Ferrero has done in shaping Alcaraz’s game and career. Cascales revealed that Ferrero had received lucrative and appealing offers to coach established elite players such as Dominic Thiem, Juan Martín del Potro, David Goffin, and Simona Halep. Despite the prestige attached to those opportunities, Ferrero opted for a different path: he wanted to mentor a player who had not yet reached the top, someone he could guide from the beginning toward a long-term vision.
According to Cascales, the potential was visible even when Alcaraz was just 16. Ferrero approached him back then with a question: could this teenager one day reach the world number one ranking? Cascales admitted that his answer came quickly—Alcaraz possessed the right attributes, the hunger, and the mentality to go all the way. Even at that age, his talent stood out in every aspect of the game, from his physical explosiveness and tactical awareness to his emotional stability. Cascales openly acknowledged that while he believed in Alcaraz’s future, Ferrero’s work with him exceeded even his own expectations, shaping the young Spaniard into the superstar he is today.
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