Alcaraz made a mistake by parting with coach Ferrero

That is the opinion of Adriano Panatta - an Italian tennis legend who once won Roland Garros, in the context that Carlos Alcaraz has not maintained high form recently.

Italian tennis legend Adriano Panatta recently drew attention by stating that Carlos Alcaraz made an error in the decision to end his long-term collaboration with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Late last year, the tennis world was surprised when Alcaraz and Ferrero officially "went their separate ways" after seven years together. Under the guidance of the former Spanish world number one, Carlitos developed remarkably, winning 24 titles, including Grand Slam championships, and rose to become the youngest player in history to top the ATP rankings after winning the US Open in 2022.

After parting with Ferrero, Alcaraz worked with acquaintance Samuel Lopez. In the first tournament of this new phase, the 22-year-old player impressed by winning the Australian Open, thereby completing his Career Grand Slam collection at a very young age.

However, the form of the player born in 2003 subsequently showed signs of slowing down. He won the Qatar Open but did not secure titles at Indian Wells and Miami Open. Most recently, the Spanish star lost to Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters final, before suffering a wrist injury that forced him to withdraw from the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open.

According to Panatta, the absence of Ferrero is having a certain impact on Alcaraz, particularly in terms of direction and match discipline. "In my opinion, he was wrong to leave Ferrero - a strict coach with high demands but extremely knowledgeable about tennis.", the former Roland Garros champion commented.

He believes that at such a young age but having achieved many successes, Alcaraz may become more ambitious than necessary and make decisions that are not entirely appropriate. Panatta also emphasized the crucial role of a coach in a player's career, not only in expertise but also in maintaining psychological stability and long-term development guidance.

"The relationship between a coach and an athlete is always very special. They accompany each day, sacrificing a lot. A good coach not only understands tennis but must also help the athlete progress at the right moments in their career.", the Italian legend said.