Carlos Alcaraz has taken a major step in his preparation for the 2024 ATP Finals by installing a replica of the tournament’s fast-paced court at his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero’s academy in Alicante, Spain. This move comes after Alcaraz’s unexpected early exit from the Paris Masters, where he openly voiced his frustrations with the court’s speed. The decision to simulate the conditions of the ATP Finals reflects Alcaraz’s dedication to refining his game for the high-stakes event in Turin, especially given the potential challenges he could face against some of the top players on the tour.
Alcaraz’s concerns about the Paris Masters courts came to the forefront after Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament, positioning Alcaraz as a favorite to claim the title. The Spaniard opened his campaign with a strong 7-5, 6-1 victory over Nicolas Jarry but was quick to express dissatisfaction with the court’s surface, describing it as “very slippery” and “fast.” He suggested that slower courts tend to produce more dynamic and engaging tennis, underscoring his belief that the speed at Paris was out of sync with his usual playing style.
The challenges of the Paris courts became even more apparent in Alcaraz’s next match, where he faced Frenchman Ugo Humbert in the third round. In a surprising upset, Alcaraz was defeated 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 by the home favorite, leaving him and his fans disappointed. After the match, Alcaraz did not shy away from addressing the “difficult” court conditions, revealing that the surface in Paris was unlike anything he had practiced on at home in Spain. “It is very difficult to play in these conditions,” Alcaraz admitted, adding, “I try to adapt as much as I can to this speed, but it doesn’t suit my game.”
Alcaraz elaborated on how the fast-paced courts in Paris impacted his performance, explaining that while he expected his game to translate well to the indoor surface, the conditions felt foreign and unpredictable. “I practiced at home, but the speed here was totally different. I was surprised—not so much by my level of play, but by the difficulty of adjusting to everything out there,” he said. His statement suggests a disconnect between his training conditions and the demands of the Paris Masters, leading him to reconsider his preparation strategy.
With the ATP Finals just around the corner, scheduled for November 10-17, Alcaraz took matters into his own hands. Reports from Marca, a Spanish sports publication, confirm that Alcaraz and his coach, former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, have installed an exact replica of the ATP Finals surface at Ferrero’s academy. This step is intended to help Alcaraz fine-tune his game on a similar fast-paced court, allowing him to adjust to the challenges he expects to face in Turin. The surface they installed is from GreenSet, the same brand used at both the ATP Finals and the upcoming Davis Cup Finals, where Alcaraz will represent Spain alongside Rafael Nadal in a quarterfinal clash against the Netherlands.
Alcaraz’s experience with the courts at the Paris Masters has highlighted a growing conversation around court speed in professional tennis. Following his loss, Alcaraz clarified that indoor courts, in general, do not pose a problem for him, emphasizing that his issues were specific to the Paris event. “It’s not indoor courts—it’s this court,” Alcaraz explained to the press. He further added that, based on the statistics from his first match, the Paris Masters court was likely “the fastest court in the Masters 1000, probably on the tour right now.” This was unexpected, Alcaraz noted, particularly because it was “the fastest one in the last ten years for this tournament.”
Reflecting on the tournament’s conditions, Alcaraz expressed confusion and frustration over the changes made by the organizers. “I don’t know why they changed the court so drastically from other tournaments, and even from previous years at the same event,” he remarked. His comments suggest that such abrupt modifications in court speed may disrupt players’ preparation and raise questions about consistency across tournaments.
The installation of the ATP Finals replica surface at Ferrero’s academy signifies Alcaraz’s commitment to overcoming these challenges. By training on a surface that mirrors what he’ll encounter in Turin, Alcaraz aims to avoid the type of performance issues he experienced in Paris. This strategic move is likely to enhance his adaptability and competitiveness, especially given the elite lineup he will face in the Finals. The tournament is set to feature formidable opponents, including Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and Taylor Fritz, all of whom are known for their powerful and aggressive styles.
Alcaraz’s proactive approach not only shows his determination to improve but also highlights the lengths top athletes go to in pursuit of peak performance. As he seeks his maiden ATP Finals title, the young Spaniard is leaving nothing to chance. His decision to replicate the Finals’ conditions at his training base is a testament to his commitment to staying competitive in the face of rapidly changing court dynamics in the professional circuit. With his adaptability and resilience, Alcaraz is positioning himself as a serious contender to clinch one of the sport’s most prestigious titles in Turin.