Carlos Alcaraz is the new Australian Open champion, a feat he achieved despite recently splitting with his long-term coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Alcaraz and Ferrero parted ways in the off-season, despite the former winning six Grand Slam titles under the tutelage of the latter.
Tennis fans were shocked when Alcaraz split with Ferrero, with the pair having enjoyed huge success during their seven years together.
Samuel Lopez has remained with ATP number one Alcaraz, who has just made history at the Australian Open by completing the career Grand Slam.
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Andy Roddick highlights Juan Carlos Ferrero role in Carlos Alcaraz’s success
Alcaraz achieved history despite the absence of Ferrero, although former world number one Andy Roddick has now highlighted his significance to the success.
He said on his Served podcast: “Anyone who is like ‘see, he does not need JCF’… it’s wildly impressive that with all this upheaval that he is able to go in there and win a Slam.
“Crazy! Good job team. But also forever the product of Carlos will be tied to the development work that JCF and Carlos did.
“For anyone that is like this Slam was without JCF. No Slam will be without JCF for the remainder of his career.
“That’s like saying we did a renovation and you still are thankful for the foundation of your house not cracking.
“Just because you can’t see it, does not mean that it’s not one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.
“So yes, unbelievable effort. Talent wins. Credit to his team for calming the storm when there was a lot of question marks.
“Had he struggled early we would have all been wondering and rightfully so. That’s a natural conversation to have.
“I think this was a massive win to close that door and that chapter. I mean, they split on December 17th and here we are on February 1st and he’s quietened that narrative. It’s crazy.
“And props to JCF. The machine that you have helped create, whatever the next steps are and however it goes from here, you cannot forget the work and the time and the process and the practice and the development. You cannot forget those offhand.
“Don’t write an article and be like he doesn’t need JCF. It’s stupid and disrespectful. It does nothing to understand the process.
“Nothing that happens with Carlos is an accident and maybe he is at the point in his career that he is like I don’t need someone to remind me to go to practice.”
Who finishes their career on more majors – Alcaraz or Djokovic?
Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic Australian Open final point stats
While Ferrero is no longer on the scene, his previous efforts with Alcaraz have undoubtedly played an enormous role in his success.
But the world number one now has a very exciting link-up with Lopez to focus on, and that pairing has just sent a real warning to the rest of the ATP Tour.
| Carlos Alcaraz | Novak Djokovic | |
| 5/16 (31%) | Break points won | 2/6 (33%) |
| 14/20 (70%) | Net points won | 20/32 (63%) |
| 45/123 (37%) | Receiving points won | 28/101 (28%) |
| 118 | Total points won | 106 |
Djokovic incidentally has done the same after reaching the final, although one of his significant records has now been removed.
After winning their Australian Open final at Rod Laver Arena, Alcaraz has now levelled his head-to-head with Djokovic, which stands at 5-5.
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