By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, May 28, 2023

Speed kills; in Carlos Alcaraz's case tempo is profound.

The speedy progress of Alcaraz's psychological sport is a key element to his rise to world No. 1, says coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

More: Alcaraz, Djokovic in Same Half of Roland Garros Draw

Meeting the media in Paris in the present day on the twentieth anniversary of his 2003 Roland Garros sweep of Martin Verkerk, former world No. 1 Ferrero says Alcaraz is "definitely" higher now than final season when he received his maiden main in New York and made historical past because the youngest-ever year-end ATP No. 1.

The 20-year-old Alcaraz's psychological maturity is the primary motive, says Ferrero.

"As a person, I would say he's more mature. He's 20 now, and of course also when you are on a team that people are older, I think you grow up a little bit faster than maybe with other people that are the same age as you," Ferrero informed the media at Roland Garros. "Yeah, as a player, I think he grows up like super fast on the court.

"He can, for instance, learn the matches just a little bit higher. Even earlier than the match, like speaking concerning the match, you possibly can see that he is extra mature on all form of areas on the courtroom.

"I would say he's better than last year. I think he has more experience. The experience that he's won US Open and, you know, live the experience on the court that he did I think makes him grow faster than maybe other people, so definitely he's a better player."

Some Grand Slam champions have prompt Alcaraz will tune down his all-court aggression and play higher-percentage (learn: extra predictable) tennis as he grows older to scale back the stress on his physique.

Rome runner-up Holger Rune, Alcaraz's former junior doubles companion, stated the Spanish phenom's ripped physique and physicality empowers his aggression.

"I think he's physically very, very strong. I would say probably one of the strongest in the game already," Rune stated of Alcaraz. "His tennis, it's also very physical. I would say he's using his physique very well.

"He's enjoying aggressive, explosive tennis. I feel his physique is an enormous a part of that. If you did not have this robust physique, I do not assume you'll have the ability to play as aggressive, explosive as he does. For positive it is all mixed, yeah."

Two-time Madrid champion Alcaraz, who informed Tennis Now he imagine his biggest weapon is "my unpredictability", stated in his pre-Roland Garros presser he is studying the sport higher now than he did final season which permits him to channel his explosiveness.

"Well, talking about tennis, I would say I'm the same player than last year, only change that Iwould say is that I'm more mature," Alcaraz informed the media in Paris. "Mentally I'm better. And I can read what happened on court better than last year. "For me, it is actually, actually necessary, and I'd say it is essentially the most totally different than final 12 months."

Alcaraz already owns one of the most complete games in the sport.

Coach Ferrero says Alcaraz has not yet scratched the surface of his full potential.

The question is: How will Alcaraz respond to the pressure of being top seed at a Grand Slam for the first time?

"I consider course received a Grand Slam already, 19 years outdated, now 20, is gonna assist him to imagine that he could make it once more," Ferrero said. "I feel it is all assist, no more stress. So that is what we imagine, and I feel we're ready to make a terrific match.

"Of course everybody can lose in first round, you don't have a clue. But I think we play a very good clay season at the moment, and, you know, this is the last one, so we are gonna try to give our best to make the best tournament possible, for sure, with no pressure."

Photo credit score: Juan Carlos Ferrero Instagram

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