Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spanish tennis sensation, is gearing up for a pivotal grass-court season, and his preparation took center stage during a recent training session at the 2025 Italian Open in Rome. Under the watchful eye of his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former world No. 1 and 2003 French Open champion, Alcaraz was spotted by 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli honing his serve with relentless focus. The insights Bartoli shared during a BBC Wimbledon preview highlight the meticulous work Alcaraz and Ferrero are putting in to elevate his game, particularly as he aims to defend his Wimbledon title in July 2025 and continue his dominance after a stellar clay season.
Bartoli, observing Alcaraz’s evening practice sessions in Rome, noted the intensity of his serve training. “I was actually in Rome when [Jannik] Sinner came back to the tour and I saw Carlos Alcaraz every single evening just doing basket after basket of serves, just changing that motion,” she said. Ferrero, known for his disciplined coaching approach, was pushing Alcaraz to refine his wrist action to add more curve and slice to his serve. Bartoli revealed that Alcaraz initially appeared “kind of sceptical” about Ferrero’s instructions, which emphasized using the wrist more dynamically. “That is about having a motion which is more smooth, that wrist action was sometimes a little bit lacking, which is why the serve was slightly too straight, so he couldn’t get the curve or the slice wide serve,” she explained. This adjustment proved transformative, as Alcaraz’s serve became a weapon at the Queen’s Club Championships, where he averaged 12 aces per match—a stark improvement from 1.8 at the Italian Open and 4 at the French Open.
Alcaraz’s Rome training was part of a broader strategy to prepare for the grass season following a triumphant clay campaign. In 2025, he clinched the Monte-Carlo Masters, Rome Masters, and French Open, defeating rival Jannik Sinner in thrilling finals. His Rome victory, a 7-6(5), 6-1 rout of Sinner, marked his seventh Masters 1000 title and completed his set of clay Masters crowns. Ferrero’s guidance has been instrumental since their partnership began in 2019, when Alcaraz was just 16. “We always try to improve day by day,” Ferrero said, emphasizing a long-term approach over immediate results. Their work at the Ferrero Tennis Academy in Villena, Spain, has produced five Grand Slam titles, including the 2022 US Open, Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, and the French Open in 2024 and 2025, making Alcaraz the youngest player to win majors on all three surfaces.
The Rome sessions highlighted the dynamic between Alcaraz’s free-spirited style and Ferrero’s structured coaching. “He’s different than me. I’m like very focused on all the time, very restrictive. And he’s more relaxed,” Ferrero once told Sports Illustrated, acknowledging their contrasting personalities. This balance was evident in Rome, where Alcaraz, nicknamed “Carlitos,” grappled with Ferrero’s technical tweaks but embraced the challenge. His improved serve shone at Queen’s, where Bartoli noted, “He has been using [the slice wide serve] so much at Queen’s. Every time he was playing against [Jiri] Lehecka he was using that slider constantly in the deuce court.” This adaptability has fueled Alcaraz’s 90% win rate at Wimbledon, where he rides a 14-match win streak and holds two titles, joining Novak Djokovic as the only active men’s champions.
Alcaraz’s off-court life adds depth to his story. After his French Open triumph, he celebrated with a three-day trip to Ibiza, a break Ferrero endorsed but tempered with advice. “Yesterday I told him to have a good time because he deserved it, but to remember that he is a tennis player,” Ferrero said, balancing Alcaraz’s need for relaxation with his professional demands. The Netflix documentary *Carlos Alcaraz: My Way* captured their candid discussions, with Ferrero expressing occasional concerns about Alcaraz’s focus. “There are many moments when I disagree with his choices,” Ferrero admitted, citing the need for balance between training and downtime. Alcaraz, however, defended his approach, saying, “I made the most of it. On my return, of course, I won at Queen’s and Wimbledon. I’m not saying I won because of the party, but those days did me good.”
As Alcaraz prepares for Wimbledon, where he faces a tough field including Sinner and Djokovic, his Rome training underscores his commitment to growth. Ferrero’s recent addition of Samuel Lopez to the coaching team, starting in December 2024, aims to share the load while maintaining Ferrero as the “boss.” “I think I’m going to grow as a player thanks to them,” Alcaraz said, optimistic about the dual-coach setup. With his family, including parents Carlos and Virginia and brother Álvaro, cheering from his player’s box, Alcaraz’s journey blends prodigious talent with grounded roots. Bartoli’s glimpse into his Rome training reveals a champion refining his craft, ready to unleash his improved serve on Wimbledon’s hallowed grass.
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