“I guess he got emotional at the end because we all know what we went through the last month or the last two months.” Carlos Alcaraz said after hearing about his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero’s emotional tears of the Spaniard’s first China Open title. After his scintillating form in the French Open and the Wimbledon, an Olympic final-round defeat proved to be a big bummer. Then came a shocking US Open second-round upset, where he complained about the ‘tight’ schedule. But Carlitos seemed to be back in his usual form in Beijing. Even in the face of adversity, Alcaraz never loses his sense of humor, particularly when joking around with his coach.

On October 4th, a heartwarming video(originally posted by a Chinese website Weibo) of Alcaraz and his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, enjoying a lighthearted moment in the gym made its way to the internet. In the clip, Alcaraz playfully attempts to pull Ferrero’s hat off while walking around. Although it takes a second try, Ferrero remains unperturbed, continuing to bow down. This playful interaction showcases the camaraderie and bond between the two.

After clinching his fourth ATP title of this season, Carlos Alcaraz is looking forward to the Shanghai Masters, where he couldn’t cruise past Grigor Dimitrov in R16 match last year. While he sets his goal straight, his coach, Ferrero, who joined his team in 2019, stays as a rock behind him. Under his vigilance, Alcaraz won 16 tournaments, including his four grand slam wins, and even became the youngest player to reach the No. 1 position. Their partnership goes beyond their professional needs.

Earlier in an interview, Alcaraz shed light on Ferrero’s coaching approach by saying, “He’s tough; He is a very serious person when he has to be when it comes to work and discipline. He is very hard on you.” Alcaraz further added, “But he is also very, very funny when he has to be. He knows how to differentiate the moments very well.”

Despite acknowledging his “strictness,” the 21-year-old has always been appreciative of Ferrero’s “professionalism.” He also attributed his own success to Ferrero, who previously worked with Alexander Zverev (2017-18). “But I think that is why I am here today. That is why I have grown very quickly, because if he were not so strict, I might have gone crazy,” he said in an interview after his Wimbledon victory.

Besides, their admiration for each other is mutual, as Ferrero himself suggested it in a different interview.

“I mean, he’s like my fourth kid,” says Carlos Alcaraz’s coach about his protégé!

For Carlos Alcaraz, his coach is a ‘very important person to him.’ Not only does he trust him implicitly but Alcaraz considers Ferrero to be his ‘family.’ Sharing a similar perspective, Juan Carlos Ferrero has also shown his love for Alcaraz, whom he met when he was 12 or 13 years old. Alcaraz’s “dynamic” performance on-court instantly charmed Ferrero.

And as they worked together, Ferrero developed an even deeper admiration for him. “I mean, he’s like my fourth kid. I have three kids at home, and he’s the fourth.” Furthermore, Ferrero, who bid adieu to tennis in 2012 after winning 16 singles titles, added, “I love the situation that we create. We create something more than a coach and a player and we hold a great respect for each other.”

Besides, per Alcaraz, his coach has helped him grow personally as well as professionally and he hopes to work with Ferrero for his entire career. It is fair to say that their off-court camaraderie translates to on-court success, making them a compelling team to watch!