Carlos Alcaraz has had no trouble on the court since splitting with his longtime coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, in the offseason.
Alcaraz and Ferrero parted ways in a shocking move during December, ending an incredibly successful seven-year player-coach relationship.
After his mentor left the team, former assistant coach Samuel Lopez stepped into the role as the main man in the 22-year-old’s box, and has yet to experience a loss so far.
How do you feel about Carlos Alcaraz’s dominance of men’s tennis right now?
Is it at risk of making the men's game boring?
With Lopez as his head coach, Alcaraz became the youngest man ever to complete the career Grand Slam at the Australian Open, and followed it up by winning another title in Doha.
Despite the Spaniard’s dominance this year, Lopez thinks he needs to keep evolving his game.
Samuel Lopez discusses Carlos Alcaraz’s game currently
As per Hoqai Post on X, Lopez said: “Dreaming is legitimate, always with your feet on the ground. Carlos has already proven he can win multiple Grand Slams in a year, so the dream would be to go for all four.”
“It’s ambitious, but possible. Above all, we want to arrive in the best conditions at the major tournaments and compete for them. Hopefully we can add more important titles; and if it’s all four, even better.”
“The first weeks of the season have been marked by Carlos’s total commitment to the preseason. He’s shown a lot of focus, intensity in training, and a very open attitude to listening and letting himself be helped. That shows his growth in maturity.”
“I was already working with Juan Carlos Ferrero last year and have known Carlos since he arrived at the academy, so the adaptation has been natural. The start has been very positive and, besides, the results have followed, which always makes the work easier.”
Will Carlos Alcaraz win the Calendar Slam in 2026?
If not, which Grand Slam is he going to fail to win?
“Coaching a number one who’s making tennis history is something that maybe only happens once in a lifetime. I had no doubts, I feel prepared, and I know the player well. I know what he needs to keep progressing, and that’s what drove me to accept.”
“He needs to keep identifying his playing pattern and, from there, develop variations. Sometimes he still gets lost in the order of those patterns, though less and less.
“It’s essential to keep evolving in the serve, the return, and the net game. Also, in the passing shot and in fully understanding his style. The key is to recognise himself as a player and perfect that model.”
Samuel Lopez picks his perfect tennis player
Lopez then picked his perfect tennis player by picking the best shot from different stars on the tour.
He said: “The first serve would be Novak’s, the second Carlos’s, the forehand Carlos’s, the backhand Jannik Sinner’s, and the volley also Carlos’s. We’re staying pretty much at home.
“From Juan Carlos as a player and from the time shared on the team, I’ve learned a lot too. I always try to listen and take the best from every experience.”
Following his Qatar Open triumph, Alcaraz’s first match at the Indian Wells Open will be against Grigor Dimitrov.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
