Ferrero, moved by Alcaraz’s victory: “It’s hard to put into words what I’m feeling”

Juan Carlos Ferrero spoke to Spanish radio station COPE after Carlos Alcaraz’s victory in the final

Carlos Alcaraz hugs his team after winning Wimbledon (Antoine Couvercelle/Panoramic)

July 17, 2023

The tears flowed after Carlos Alcaraz won his maiden Wimbledon title on Sunday, following a five-set final victory over seven-time winner Novak Djokovic. As he celebrated his second Grand Slam victory with his team, Alcaraz went first to hug his long-time coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero.

The emotional 43-year-old Spaniard is the man who has shaped Alcaraz’s game into what it is today. Having joined his tennis academy at the age of 15, he has gone from strength to strength ever since, becoming the youngest-ever male world No 1 in September 2022.

In a press conference before the final, Alcaraz paid tribute to Juan Carlos Ferrero, saying he considered him “a second father” and appreciated the moments he shared with him on the ATP circuit. A few hours after his young charge’s coronation, Ferrero for his part gave his initial reactions to Spanish radio station COPE.

“I see a lot of emotion, a lot of hard work. A lot of people see our victory, but behind it there are many hours of work and a lot of time away from home. At the start of the tournament, we knew how hard it was to win, but we’d just won Queen’s and it didn’t cost anything to dream.

“Even though he didn’t begin his final very well, he learned from what happened in Paris. We have reason to be excited and to think big with Carlos. He’s taken us through something wonderful, and it’s hard to express what I feel in words.”