Alcaraz, because the victory at Wimbledon over Djokovic is a lesson for Sinner- Corriere.it

ANDra the autumn Roland Garros, that of Covid. On court 10 closed to the public there were three of us watching the first round of the qualifiers of the new announced champion. Juan Carlos Ferrero urged his student to search the net. But I’m wrong every time the boy complained. You go, the coach answered him anyway. Carlos Alcaraz ended up losing that game.

Against Aleksandar Vukic, an Australian of Serbian ethnicity who in his life reached the maximum number 87 in the world. In that intimate atmosphere, Ferrero remained to speak with those present. As a football addict, he explained in this way the principles he was inspired by for the growth of that still raw talent. I would like Carlos to become a cross between Holland and 1974 Germany he told us. But to combine beauty and maximum practicality, he has to make up his mind to become a complete player, coaching the things he doesn’t know how to do well.

These words came back to our mind looking at the backhand volley with which Carlitos kept Novak Djokovic away in the decisive game. And then the kick service, and the rolling balls with which he took away confidence in the invincible backhand of the Serbian phenomenon. Alcaraz has had more solutions than one of the three greatest ever, and to become one he had to do the same thing.

Add weapons, model yourself on your opponents, change. In modern tennis, you win only like this. Especially if you intend to do it for a long time. If the epic Wimbledon final can teach Jannik Sinner anything, he shouldn’t be afraid to step out of his comfort zone to enrich his violent and monotonous tennis. Even at the cost of leaving a few games on the street. Now he knows the difference between writing history as Alcaraz will continue to do, and settling instead for a few stage wins. Our number one still has the time and means to stay in the first category. The choice is up to him and his coaches.