By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, January 12, 2025
Picture credit score: Andy Cheung/Getty
Carlos Alcaraz is aware of all about creating profitable sequels.
Alcaraz stopped Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic to efficiently defend Wimbledon final July.
The 21-year-old Spaniard seized his fourth Grand Slam crown in as many main finals—becoming a member of Roger Federer because the second man in Open Period historical past to win his first 4 Slam finals—and now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with elite champions because the sixth man in historical past to brush Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the identical season
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So what does the world No. 3 do for an encore?
Alcaraz has streamlined his service movement and employed Samuel Lopez, former long-time coach of Pablo Carreno Busta, as a part of his teaching staff beneath head coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
“Then when Samuel, I knew that I needed to be with another person than Juan Carlos that may assist Juanki generally and journey or combine or break up tournaments,” Alcaraz advised the media in Melbourne. ” So have somebody to refresh a little bit bit between tournaments goes to be nice.
“Clearly is somebody that I belief 100%. He is actually good coach. Has been coach of Juan Carlos when he performed. Goes to be an important coach for me, I am certain.”
A key intention for the Alcaraz teaching staff: Create simpler service holds in 2025.
Although Alcaraz can blast 130 mph-plus first-serves, can serve with hellacious spin and dots all areas of the field, he clocked in at solely No. 30 on the ATP Tour in first-serve factors received in 2024 (73 %) and was No. 12 within the very important service video games received class (85.4 %).
In distinction, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner was No. 1 in service video games received (91.4 %) and was second in first-serve factors received (79.3 %).
On the flip aspect, Alcaraz was second on the ATP Tour to Alex de Minaur in return video games received (30.79 %).
Alcaraz mentioned he is attempting to streamline his service movement to advertise smoother rhythm and larger consistency on serve.
“Good rhythm [is the goal]. Earlier than in all probability one of the vital points that I’ve on the serve is the rhythm,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I did not get the nice rhythm. So I feel with this one I’ll get rhythm simply to hit in the appropriate spot each time.
“I feel one thing I’ve to enhance, the precision. I’ve to be extra exact on the serve. I feel with rhythm goes to assist quite a bit. I feel that is what I am on the lookout for.”
