Coincidence or not, the tennis day was born this Sunday accompanied by an enigmatic message from Villena (Alicante), where Carlos Alcaraz forged for six years, the champion he is today: “First of all, I wanted to thank everyone for the many messages I have received during the month of December. I did not expect so many messages of love and support, I really appreciate it a lot.” “I am very happy to spend more time at home, at the academy, with my family. It is always appreciated after so much traveling and so much time away.” “After a while, I’m sure I’ll want to get back to the circuit. I’ll tell you about new projects that come up during the year.”
The coach’s words, broadcast through a video on his social networks, preceded the Murcian’s victory in his debut at the Australian Open against local Adam Walton; a laborious episode that guides him towards tomorrow’s match against the veteran Yannick Hanfmann (34 years old, 102nd in the world) and that reaffirms his excellent performance until now in the debuts of major tournaments. Like Arthur Ashe, Björn Borg and Rafael Nadal, the Murcian has signed a performance (20 out of 20) that in his day giants like Djokovic or Federer, nor now Jannik Sinner, could not achieve. Satisfied, Alcaraz appreciated the work well completed and after the intervention on the court, he spoke in the conference room.
The number one referred to Samuel López, the coach that he previously complemented and who now has ownership of the bench that Ferrero occupied for seven years. Serious and direct, he responded: “For me Samuel [55 años] He is one of the best, if not the best coach in the world right now.” He therefore broke a spear in favor of the discreet, hard-working and beloved man who will direct him this season and who since the tennis player announced (45) at the end of December, has been undervalued: Murray, Agassi, Ferrer… Even Roger Federer, in the opinion of the Swede Mats Wilander. In gatherings, huddles and interviews there has been no shortage of names or names over the last month. interpretations that invited Alcaraz to hire a media coach.
However, the protagonist seems to have no doubt today: Findyour man. Your lighthouse. But who is it? Find?, those who do not follow tennis in depth will surely ask themselves. López is the modest guy who in the mid-nineties built the elite center on a plot of land that today is registered, with the help of the latter’s mentor, Antonio Martínez Cascales; the same one who quickly hung up his racket (at 23) because it wouldn’t go any further and who was enthusiastic about training; the same one that directed Pablo Carreño and that for just over a year has contributed in a key way to the sustained improvement of Alcaraz; and the same one, in short, for which he and his surroundings feel weakness.
Unfair
So, when managing the exit of the supercoachEl Palmar and its surroundings did not hesitate. Samuel? Yes, Samuel. But accompanied by…?, he asked his agent (Albert Molina) from abroad. “Nobody’s.” Asked by EL PAÍS about the lack of recognition, despite the knowledge and accumulated merit of the man from Alicante, who was always in a discreet background, Alcaraz did not hesitate.
“Each person, each coach, is different. Some can give you one thing, others can give you another. I, for example, believe that Samuel can bring everything a player needs today. Not having been number one and not having been a professional tennis player, being in the topperhaps it is not recognized as it deserves. Now that many professional tennis players have wanted to appoint me as their main coach, it doesn’t seem fair at all, because for me he is one of the best, if not the best coach in the world right now. I think he deserves the recognition because he gives you some things that no tennis player-coach today can perhaps give you.”
Around midnight, Alcaraz retired to the hotel and sealed a day in which Walton required him to roll up his sleeves from start to finish, regardless of whether the number one achieved a comfortable victory in the end. Exceptionally, you now have two days of transition between one commitment and another. “Tomorrow [por este lunes] I’m sure I’m not going to rest. We have already planned training in the morning and I will try to find some time to play golf, let’s see if it gives me life… But hey, they are two very necessary, very important days to try to recover and be as good as possible for the next game, so we will do what we can,” he resolved.
