Juan Carlos Ferrero has offered some post-match praise for Carlos Alcaraz, telling a story of what he did mid-way through the French Open final.
It was a clash that was littered with unpredictability, kickstarted with some Jannik Sinner brilliance.
He stormed into a two-set lead, and seemed destined to dethrone the reigning champion and claim his maiden Roland Garros title.
However, Alcaraz had other ideas, and rallied remarkably to force the match into a deciding fifth-set tiebreak, which he won.
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The most extraordinary of finals between two extraordinary players, Jim Courier thinks the future of tennis is safe in this duo’s hands.
Ferrero was particularly keen to praise his own player, unsurprisingly, for showcasing immense mental grit to partner his superb shot-making from the match.
Juan Carlos Ferrero praises Carlos Alcaraz for French Open final mentality
Speaking in a rare post-match press conference, the Spaniard was effusive in his praise for his pupil, who he has moulded into one of the best tennis players of his generation.
Having honed his physicality and technique, there are some things that cannot be taught, with an unflinching mentality tough to forge.
It is that particular trait which Ferrero marvelled at, claiming: ‘Jannik also had a match point and had his chances and in the end Carlos raised his level and won the match.
‘But today was even more difficult. In the third [set] also a break down after losing two sets, when you sit on the chair you start to think that maybe Jannik didn’t lose a set and I’m two sets down, it’s going to be very difficult to come back.
‘But I think his strength is to keep believing all the time until the last ball is gone and he tries and tries.
‘He was 0-40 in the fourth, 5-3 and he looked at me and he still makes like this with the racket, still saying we are still here, still saying vamos. I am not going to say I was believing that he was able to recover from this, 5-3, 0-40. But with Carlos everything is possible and he did it again. Amazing achievement.’
Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz are a perfect match
It’s quite clear the mutual respect shared between Carlos Alcaraz and Ferrero, both wholly committed to achieving something special.
They are certainly well on their way towards achieving that too, having just secured the fifth major title of the 22-year-old’s career.
Already he has surpassed some legendary names in tennis history, and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
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Choosing to leave his post as Alexander Zverev’s coach when he did raised eyebrows, and only drew more scrutiny when it was in service of overseeing the development of an unknown 16-year-old.
However, it’s fair to say that such a gamble has already paid off, with Alcaraz on track to be remembered as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history.