The former Valencian tennis player, former world number one, current coach of Carlos Alcaraz and image of Pedro del Hierro’s last campaign, spends a few days at his home in Villena while his pupil recovers from an injury.
Under normal circumstances, Juan Carlos Ferrero (Onteniente, Valencia, 1980) these days he would have to be in the midst of training, matches, press conferences, concentrations and other routines required by the demanding ATP clay season in which his pupil competes. However, the former tennis player and world number one, winner of Roland Garros in 2003, is at his house in Villena (Alicante), enjoying his family. His player, Carlos Alcaraz, is injured and has not participated in the Conde de Godó tournament in Barcelona that is being held these days. “It is a setback, but, in the end, there is no silver lining, we are at home,” comments the coach of the current world number three.
We caught him precisely when he arrived to pick up his three children from school. While they play in the yard, Ferrero chats for a while on the phone with METRÓPOLI about his work as a coach in recent years, about Carlitos Alcaraz, about his gastronomic hobbies and about his latest collaboration with a fashion brand, specifically, Pedro del Hierro .
Do you like fashion? I’m not a super fan of this world, but I do like to be a little dressed up and trendy, especially at night. I’m not one of those who goes out everywhere in a tracksuit, I wear sports clothes all day, so when I’m not on the slopes, I like to dress up. What led you to collaborate with Pedro del Hierro and be the image of your last campaign? It’s something I’ve done more times, especially between the ages of 20 and 30; They were calling me from some brands. I like it, because, in the end, it is something that takes me a little out of the monotony of doing the same thing in the world of
tennis. On the other hand, I know Pedro del Hierro and I have been wearing his clothes for a long time, I like them and when they offered me this opportunity, I didn’t think about it much. I am the image of the most sporty, casual, casual branch. Juan Carlos Ferrero, image of the last season of the Pedro del Hierro fashion brand.
How is Carlos doing with his injury? Will he be able to participate in the Mutua Open in Madrid? Well, injuries are something that you know when they start but not when they end. We thought that he was going to be in Barcelona, and it couldn’t be; Let’s hope to be able to play in Madrid. As an athlete, what gives you more satisfaction, winning Roland Garros and being number one or seeing your pupil win two Grand Slams? Both. Everything has its moment. As a player, being able to win a Grand Slam that is within the reach of so few is an immense pride and joy, because all the work you put in since you were little pays off. And as a coach, it is a different job in which you have to control many things so that everything goes well. In the end, you are off the court and it is the player who does the work, but it is enormously satisfying to have accompanied such a young kid to unleash his full potential and, for now, have won two Grand Slams. Is it easy? train a teenager? Yes and no. At first it is a little easier, because when they are so young, most of the time they answer you in the affirmative. When they get older, it costs a little more… but it was a very nice project to start with Carlos, who barely had ATP points and had everything ahead of him. It has been a great challenge to put everything in its place so that the kid can reach his full potential. You have your own
tennis academy, Ferrero
Tennis Academy, although I suppose you won’t spend much time there now… Do you miss being there? No, because I actually live right there. I have my house in a little corner of the academy and after each tournament, I return. When we’re not competing, I’m there. We have around 80 students who live there all year round and during the summer, about 400 come. How do you see the future of
tennis in Spain? Are there still children interested and, above all, committed in this era of TikTok, Reality Virtual, youtubers? There are children, but they are very distracted by the phone and social networks. That is a super useful work tool but at the same time it is very distracting. I think there will always be great Spanish players on the circuit, because the structure behind it is very good, we have good academies, good coaches and many important tournaments from a very young age, so I don’t think we will have problems with players coming out, but Yes, it is true that nowadays it is difficult for people to be focused and train to be professionals. Let’s hope that little by little it will settle down and make it a little clearer.
You retired from professional
tennis at the age of 32, early if we compare it with the age at which many
tennis players leave today. Would you have liked to have lengthened your career? That depends on each person. In my time, people retired a little younger. But I think that the way players train has been evolving, the good ones play fewer tournaments than I played… those things help a
tennis player’s career lengthen longer. In my time, after 15 years playing on the circuit, in the end I lacked motivation, I didn’t feel competitive and I quit. Nowadays everything is taken care of more, the calendar, nutrition, injury prevention…Spending so much time away from home, how do you stay in shape? It’s easy. In the end, in tournaments we have more time and you can take time for yourself on a daily basis and since you have your player’s physical trainer, the physio and so on, you join the group a little to go all together. How Does a former elite athlete eat now? Do you follow a special diet? No, special diet, no. But since I finished playing it was pretty clear to me that I have to be careful with what I eat. Nutrition, when you play is important, but when you don’t, I’m not going to tell you that it is even more so, but, as you do less sport, if you don’t take care of yourself a little, you will get a little bigger. I stay well because I do a lot of sports, I take care of my diet and, since I have experience of what is good and bad, I know where I have to go. When you are traveling, do you cook? Normally we stay in hotels, so we always go to restaurants. If we ever rent an apartment, we cook, sometimes, but not me. I’m not much of a cook, really. At home neither, it is not one of my hobbies. What dish drives you crazy? Paella. Who would you invite to eat to get to know better? Tiger Woods. I really like the world of
golf, I was able to greet him many years ago, but I would like to spend more time with him. A place where you always come back for lunch or dinner. Elías restaurant, in El Xinorlet, which makes a rabbit paella and snails that I love. In which country in the world have you eaten the best? Italy is one of my favorites. What did fame taste like when you were number one? Well, it had its positive and negative things. When you are known, you have to be a little careful with what you do, because, in the end, you are an example for many people. But you have to do it, because at first it’s always a little difficult. What does your life taste like now? Now it tastes the same but with more experience, because I manage it a little better than when I became famous at 19 years old. The experience has made me handle it more calmly, more calmly, knowing how to behave at all times.
What do you binge on? Sports, always. What is or has been your sweetest moment? As a player, when I fulfilled my goals by winning Ronlad Garros, reaching number one and winning the Davis Cup, and as a coach, seeing That work gives results, that is very satisfying. Is there anything that makes your life bitter? No, luckily, nothing. Right now I am quite happy with my family, my wife and my three children. I have health and work, so nothing makes me bitter. Why do you need a salt shaker? To make people laugh. I am a more serious person than those who are fooling around all day. What do you add spice to your life? I really like to play
golf with my friends and we always bet on things… I love in those moments to put some sauce on it so that There’s something at stake. What’s stopping your appetite? The bad news in the world lately. We are having a bad time. What is never missing from your table? A good conversation, something that is scarce nowadays. What can’t you stand at the table? Telephones, I can’t. I like to be where we are when I go to eat with family and friends. It annoys me to go to a restaurant and there is no conversation and everyone is on their cell phones. We already used it enough during the rest of the day. It makes me very angry. When was the last time you got upset? The other day when I saw my photos of Pedro del Hierro at the airport. We were arriving at the passport area and, suddenly, my children started pointing at me in front of everyone and people were looking at the photo board and then at me… and I went ballistic, both me and my wife (laughs ). It caught me off guard. What’s bothering you these days? Not being able to play tournaments with Carlos. When we are really stopped for things like that, he gives me a bit of a headache. Do you have bad coffee? No, I don’t think so. When things are not done right, I am quite strict, but I would say no. When was the last time you raised a chicken? I don’t like arguing at all, I’m not worth much for arguing. I try to get others to do it, but when I have to say something, I say it. A toast to… To my family, who is really putting up with all of this most of the time without me at home. And the truth is that they are champions.
2024-04-17 22:04:00
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