Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old tennis prodigy, has once again captured the world’s attention with his electrifying performance at the 2025 French Open, where he clinched his fifth Grand Slam title in a five-set epic against Jannik Sinner. The grueling 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) victory, which saw him save three championship points, marked a career-defining moment. Yet, as the dust settled on Roland Garros, Alcaraz jetted off to Ibiza for a three-day getaway, a decision that sparked debate among fans and his team. His coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former world No. 1 and 2003 French Open champion, has now shared his nuanced perspective, balancing pride in his protégé’s triumph with a reminder of his responsibilities as a professional athlete.
Ferrero, who has guided Alcaraz since he was 15, initially expressed reservations about similar trips in the past, as revealed in the Netflix documentary *Carlos Alcaraz: My Way*. Last year, Alcaraz’s decision to party in Ibiza before the grass season raised eyebrows, with Ferrero and physiotherapist Juanjo Moreno questioning his focus. “If you go to Ibiza for six days and go out every single night, by the seventh day you’ve done anything but rest,” Ferrero cautioned, emphasizing the need for discipline. Moreno echoed this, warning, “From a stricter standpoint, I tell him, ‘Carlos, now’s not the time. You’re slipping up.’” Yet, Alcaraz’s subsequent victories at Queen’s Club and Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024 suggested that these breaks might fuel his success. “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,” Alcaraz admitted in the documentary, defending his need to unwind.
This year, Ferrero’s stance has softened, reflecting a growing trust in Alcaraz’s ability to balance relaxation and professionalism. Speaking after the French Open, he said, “Yesterday, I told him to have a good time, that he deserved it, but to remember he’s a tennis player at all times. We know how he is, and these days do him good.” Ferrero acknowledged the mental benefits of Alcaraz’s breaks, noting, “It’s no longer about the word ‘party,’ but about disconnecting. Being with his friends and not thinking about tennis and being a normal 22-year-old, and returning to work with enthusiasm.” This shift comes as Ferrero recognizes that Alcaraz’s brief escapes to Ibiza help him recharge, returning with a “clear head, renewed” for the challenges ahead, such as defending his Wimbledon title starting June 30.
The Ibiza trip, planned for just three days, is a strategic pause before Alcaraz competes at the Queen’s Club Championships, where he faces tough competition from players like Jack Draper and Tommy Paul. Ferrero’s cautious approval reflects their evolving relationship, marked by open conversations about work ethic and sacrifice. In the documentary, Ferrero admitted to doubts about Alcaraz’s dedication, saying, “He has a different way of understanding work and sacrifice. It’s so different that it makes me question whether he can really be the best in history.” Yet, he remains committed, drawn to Alcaraz’s bravery and potential since spotting him as a teenager at his Alicante academy. “The idea of working with a young kid and really building something from such a young age with the knowledge I have as both a player and a coach really appealed to me,” Ferrero shared.
Alcaraz, for his part, values these discussions, viewing them as constructive. “I’m not going to say ‘the fight,’ but the conversation we have, coach and player, we all have it,” he said, acknowledging the natural tension between personal desires and professional demands. His 2025 season, with titles in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo, and Rome, demonstrates his ability to deliver under Ferrero’s guidance, despite occasional setbacks like his Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic. As Alcaraz prepares for the grass season, Ferrero’s balanced approach—encouraging a brief respite while reinforcing discipline—highlights their strong bond, one that continues to propel Alcaraz toward tennis greatness.
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