Roddick acknowledged that Ferrero also played a role in Alcaraz’s victory, while Alcaraz responded that he only wanted to counter the external doubts.

“See! He doesn’t need Ferrero at all! Ferrero is dispensable in Alcaraz’s team!” Such remarks became common on tennis forums worldwide following the Australian Open final this year. Confronted with this viewpoint, Roddick rarely spoke out, offering a pointed perspective on Alcaraz’s connection with former coach Ferrero.

Addressing this viewpoint directly, Roddick expressed his opinion clearly, emphasizing Ferrero’s irreplaceable role: “This Grand Slam, he didn’t have Ferrero by his side, but no Grand Slam champion’s success can be separated from Ferrero’s groundwork. Those saying ‘he doesn’t need Ferrero’ should wake up.”

Roddick reflected, “After such a major change in the team, for him to withstand the pressure and claim a Grand Slam title is truly astonishing. His team’s work was flawless. Carlos’s achievements will always be closely tied to the time he spent honing his skills and growing alongside Ferrero.”

Roddick used a vivid metaphor to describe Ferrero’s role: “It’s like renovating a house but still being grateful that the foundation never cracked — Ferrero is that foundation for him.”

Roddick continued, “His journey has been incredible. Talent is obviously key to winning, but credit must go to his team who helped calm the storms off the court. Doubts were constant before; if he had stumbled early in the tournament, everyone would have questioned why — that’s natural. Now, this victory is significant; he has firmly shut the door on all criticism and moved past it. Remember, they parted ways only on December 17th, and by February 1st, just over a month later, he crushed all rumors with this championship.”

Notably, during yesterday’s post-match press conference, Alcaraz was asked about this issue. He stated that the external doubts actually motivated him more, and regarding Ferrero, he likely had deeper thoughts, which is why he didn’t mention him at all.

“Honestly, no… I don’t think about those who have doubts. I’m here to play for myself and for my team. I’m just happy to have proven all those people wrong. Now I’m focused on Roland Garros. I don’t want to give anyone any chance,” Alcaraz said.

In response, former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli commented on a European sports program: “Ferrero built a solid framework for Alcaraz. Now this young man is learning to fly on his own, but that initial framework remains important.”

Simon Briggs, a senior tennis journalist for the UK’s Daily Telegraph, wrote: “Alcaraz’s new team deserves credit for helping him smoothly transition, but anyone familiar with his development knows Ferrero’s influence runs deep.”

The topic sparked intense debate among netizens, creating two sharply opposing viewpoints.

Supporters of Ferrero wrote, “As Roddick said, Ferrero is the foundation of Alcaraz. You can renovate a house, but the foundation is what supports everything.” Some others added, “Some people have forgotten who nurtured Alcaraz from a prodigy into a Grand Slam champion.”

Those who believe Alcaraz has surpassed Ferrero argued: “Alcaraz has proven that great players can adapt to different coaches. He doesn’t need to rely on just one person.” “Team sports are like that; people come and go. Alcaraz is mature enough now to win on his own.”

There were also more balanced voices; one netizen commented, “Why can’t we both appreciate Ferrero’s past contributions and celebrate Alcaraz’s current success? They are not mutually exclusive. Besides, Alcaraz himself has never denied Ferrero’s importance; he’s just looking forward.”

Regardless of external debates, Alcaraz has delivered the strongest response on court: he can carry forward the valuable legacy left by Ferrero and continue building his own tennis dynasty.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)