Carlos Alcaraz Proves His Independence by Unveiling Bold Gameplan Change Without Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero’s Input

While the ATP Finals battalion makes calculated strides against tough opponents, Carlos Alcaraz is taking a different approach. He’s in the John Newcombe Group with Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, and Andrey Rublev. The competition is fierce, especially since Zverev recently overtook him for the second ranking. It has been fairly successful season for Alcaraz, with four titles, including two Grand Slams at Wimbledon and the French Open. But with Alcaraz, it’s not just his consistency which is impressive, but also the unique techniques that he brings to the court at times.

At the ATP Finals, Alcaraz hasn’t had a great start. He lost to Casper Ruud in his ATP Finals opener on Monday. He started strong, holding two immediate break points but fell 6-1, 7-5. During a press conference after the match, the Spaniard was asked about a new technique he tried.

Talking about whether he and his team were trying something new because of the indoor season and faster surface, Alcaraz noted that other players excel on indoor courts, making adaptation crucial. Yet there’s an air of unpredictability about him that leads to spontaneous decisions. “I’m a player who makes changes without working on.” Alcaraz said. He hadn’t discussed these changes with his coach Juan Carlos, as he revealed, “I just started to feel comfortable doing it or without thinking I just did it a little bit different, and I started to feel well.”

This spontaneous energy isn’t new, he successfully employed it at the China Open when he defeated World No. 1 Jannik Sinner 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3). “I don’t know. It was in the Asian Swing, for example, Beijing I start, or in the Davis Cup, I started to do it a little bit different,” he explained.

However, something went awry against Ruud. Alcaraz acknowledged that this technique can be hit-or-miss, “Sometimes it’s good; sometimes it’s bad.” He remains hesitant about committing, as he stated, “I don’t know if I’ll practice it. I’ll change it in the pre-season I’ll do a little bit different.”

Finding time to refine details before returning to the court is challenging for Carlos Alcaraz. This year, he has played 52 matches, achieving 41 wins and 11 losses. “It’s pretty difficult when you don’t have time to do something different between tournaments because you don’t have time,” he concluded.

Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rennae Stubbs, however, thought that Alcaraz’s struggles against Ruud had more to do with the mental aspects than anything else.

Serena Williams ex-coach makes an observation on Alcaraz’s form

On November 11, Rennae Stubbs took to her Threads app to share her insights on the Spaniard. She noted that Alcaraz might be overthinking his shots, stating, “Sometimes Carlos just doesn’t lock it down. He still has a tendency to go for a mental wander. Shot selections are questionable.” Despite his struggles in the match against Ruud, Stubbs sees potential for Alcaraz’s future success.

She believes Alcaraz can win many Grand Slams if he overcomes his tendency to overthink. “Don’t worry though y’all he’s still incredible and will win many majors but on these faster courts not getting free points on serve also hurts him,” she remarked. The Spaniard now faces pressure to perform well in his next matches. He is also managing health issues that have recently plagued him.

The 21-year-old has been dealing with nasal congestion. He wore a nasal strip during practice, raising concerns among fans about his fitness. Later admitting to feeling unwell and experiencing stomach discomfort during the match against Ruud, Alcaraz said, “I don’t know if it was because of the nerves of the first match, but I didn’t feel completely well. My stomach limited my game a lot and made me feel uncomfortable. I could’ve done better.”

As he tries to recover quickly, Alcaraz knows he has little room for error if he hopes to make it to the semi-finals in Turin. With two crucial matches ahead against Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev, every point counts for the young Spaniard. So you think Carlos Alcaraz will bounce back from this setback in his next match tomorrow against Rublev? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!