In the electric atmosphere of the 2025 French Open, Carlos Alcaraz delivered a performance that left spectators at Court Philippe-Chatrier spellbound. The 22-year-old Spaniard, already a four-time Grand Slam champion, dismantled American Tommy Paul in a commanding 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 quarterfinal victory, securing his third consecutive semifinal appearance at Roland Garros. The match, a 94-minute display of blistering forehands, deft drop shots, and relentless court coverage, showcased Alcaraz at his peak. Yet, his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former world No. 1 and 2003 French Open champion, tempered the celebration with a sobering warning: brilliance like this is hard to sustain, and Alcaraz must sharpen his consistency to fulfill his boundless potential.
Ferrero, who has guided Alcaraz since 2019, was effusive in his praise for his protégé’s performance against Paul, where Alcaraz’s 39 winners and 80% first-serve accuracy overwhelmed his opponent. “Carlos was almost perfect yesterday, but it’s hard to replicate a performance like that every day,” Ferrero said in a candid interview. He marveled at Alcaraz’s fearless play, noting, “When he plays fearlessly and with the right attitude, he is a player with boundless potential that he has not yet seen to the end.” Yet, the seasoned coach was quick to highlight the challenge ahead. “There is still a lot of work to do, he needs to improve especially from the point of view of consistency,” Ferrero emphasized, pointing to the mental and tactical adjustments required to maintain such a high level across grueling tournaments.
Alcaraz’s journey to the 2025 French Open semifinals has been a testament to his meteoric rise. At just 22, he became the third-youngest player to reach three consecutive Roland Garros semifinals, trailing only legends Mats Wilander and Rafael Nadal. His clay-court prowess, honed under Ferrero’s tutelage, has yielded seven ATP Masters 1000 titles, including Monte-Carlo and Rome in 2025. However, Ferrero’s caution stems from Alcaraz’s occasional lapses, such as his shock second-round exit to Botic van de Zandschulp at the 2024 US Open. “There will always be days when it won’t be so bright and he will have to strive to stay focused to find alternative solutions,” Ferrero noted, urging Alcaraz to develop strategies for off-days when his shots don’t find their mark.
The dynamic between Ferrero and Alcaraz, built on trust and shared Spanish roots, has been pivotal to the young star’s success. Ferrero, nicknamed “El Mosquito” for his speed during his playing days, sees echoes of his own journey in Alcaraz’s explosive style, though he acknowledges their differences. “Carlos is starting to focus more on himself and not on others, and really finding his maximum level,” Ferrero observed, highlighting Alcaraz’s growing maturity. This shift has been evident in his ability to rebound from setbacks, like the emotional toll of losing the Olympic gold medal match to Novak Djokovic in 2024, followed by a rejuvenated title run at the China Open.
As Alcaraz prepares to face Lorenzo Musetti in the French Open semifinals, the stakes are high. A potential final against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner looms, a matchup fans crave but have yet to see in a Grand Slam final. Ferrero’s guidance will be crucial as Alcaraz navigates the pressure of defending his 2024 Roland Garros title. “He has to trust that when he fights at 100 per cent, with his maximum intensity, he can make others struggle,” Ferrero said, emphasizing a mindset focused on Alcaraz’s own game rather than external expectations. This approach has propelled Alcaraz to 19 ATP Tour titles, including a Rotterdam Open victory in 2025 that surpassed Ferrero’s own career tally of 16.
Ferrero’s warning is not one of doubt but of ambition. He sees Alcaraz, with his staggering 76.1% win rate in Masters 1000 events, as a player still scratching the surface of his potential. “Carlos has always had the level, the problem is that it’s very hard to produce it in every match,” Ferrero admitted, pointing to the pressures of fame, tight schedules, and formidable opponents. As Alcaraz continues his quest for a second French Open crown, Ferrero’s mentorship—rooted in tough love and unwavering belief—remains his greatest asset. The Parisian crowd, still buzzing from Alcaraz’s demolition of Paul, awaits another chapter in the saga of a player whose ceiling, as Ferrero insists, is yet to be defined.
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