Carlos Alcaraz’s coach has suggested there’s still more to come from the four-time Grand Slam champion.
In a battle of old meeting new, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz is set to take on countryman and idol Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of the Six Kings Slam.
The 21-year-old opened his account in Saudi Arabia with a cultured win over Denmark’s Holger Rune 6-4, 6-2.
In just 70 minutes, Alcaraz progressed, while Jannik Sinner dealt Daniil Medvedev a crushing 68-minute defeat.
With the Spaniard having completed the ‘Channel Slam’ this year by winning the French Open and retaining his Wimbledon title, coach Juan Carlos Ferrero still has his eye on bigger and better things.
Juan Carlos Ferrero hints at improvements to come from Carlos Alcaraz
Having paired up in 2019 after the former number one Ferrero split with Alexander Zverev, he has overseen four major titles with Alcaraz.
With the Spaniard, along with Sinner, dominating 2024, Alcaraz has won three times against his rival this year.
Despite Alcaraz’s masterful all-court game, Ferrero has insisted there is still much more to come.
He said on Sky Sports: “We always try to improve day by day. For us a little bit it doesn’t matter the result at the beginning, of course they are important but I always try and keep Carlos improving all the time.
“If he can bring some more new things to a tennis course that will be very welcome,” the 44-year-old said.
Great Britain’s Liam Broady replied with nothing but praise for Alcaraz. He responded: “He has every physical and technical trait you would want.
“Maybe you would want to see him come to the net a little more but his forehand is so big, he doesn’t get many chances to come to the net behind it anyway!”
Alcaraz revealed his plan for facing Nadal, suggesting he’s going to have to go all out to beat him.
What is Carlos Alcaraz’s record against Rafael Nadal?
While the scoreline may perhaps prove to be slightly one-sided, with Nadal playing his first singles match since the Olympics in August, the occasion is no less hotly anticipated.
Nadal and Alcaraz paired up for the Olympic doubles in Paris reaching the quarter-finals together, before losing to the eventual silver medallists.
While the Saudi exhibition will not award either any ATP points or alter their professional tour head-to-head, Nadal currently leads 2-1.
Having won the first two, Alcaraz got revenge in the third, winning the Madrid quarter-final in three sets.
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