Carlos Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has claimed the US Open champion and fellow young star Jannik Sinner can dominate tennis for the next decade.
Alcaraz overcame Casper Ruud to a stunning run in New York as he won his maiden Grand Slam title and clinched the World No.1 spot atop the ATP rankings. The 19-year-old defeated Ruud 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 in three hours and 20 minutes at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows.
The US Open is the Spaniard’s fifth title of the season after wins in Rio, Miami, Barcelona and Madrid while his overall win-loss record in 2022 improved to 51-9. Alcaraz has enjoyed a terrific 2022 season, climbing to top spot in the rankings after starting the year in 32nd.
His coach Ferrero, a former World No.1, has guided Alcaraz to the top spot and believes he will only be rivalled by Sinner in the coming years. The 21-year-old has made waves over the last couple of years and he even defeated Alcaraz in four sets at Wimbledon earlier this summer.
However, Alcaraz got his revenge over the Italian in New York - and Ferrero believes the duo will meet many more times in the foreseeable future. Ferrero said: “I said to someone that Sinner and Carlos could dominate the tour for the next 10 years.
“There are others like Alex Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas. They're going to have chances to win Slams, for sure. But with respect, that's what I think.”
The 42-year-old offered a warning to Alcaraz’s rivals by suggesting he is nowhere near his potential, adding: “As I tell him, he's on 60 per cent of his game. He can improve a lot.
“Once you get to No 1, it's not done. Opponents will be very motivated against him. It's like Real Madrid-Barcelona, there's a rivalry that gets you to increase your level.”
How many Grand Slam titles do you think Carlos Alcaraz will win? Let us know in the comments section.
With his win, Alcaraz became the youngest man to become World No.1 at 19 years four months and six days. He has flown up the rankings after bursting onto the scene last year, and is deemed one of the greatest young talents to arrive in tennis.
Alcaraz also became the youngest Grand Slam champion since compatriot and 22-time major winner Rafael Nadal, who won the 2005 French Open just two days after turning 19. It was also Ruud’s - who is the new World No.2 - second defeat in a major final after he lost to Nadal at Roland Garros earlier this year.
Former French Open champion Ferrero has spent the last four years coaching and developing Alcaraz, so the rise of the Spaniard is not a shock to him. He said: “It's a surprise for everybody except me because I trained with him every day.
“He arrived at the academy when he was 15, he was like spaghetti — very thin.”
