Samuel Lopezbefore the semifinals of the Australian Open against Alexander Zverev, speaks to the Spanish media who traveled to Melbourne. The Alicante coach reviews the moment his pupil is going through.
Sensations. “We are seeing as the days go by that he is gaining more confidence, more rhythm, in what is the first competition of the year, in this case a Grand Slam. This does not happen the rest of the year because he competes earlier. I think we arrived at a good time to face Zverev.
The 36 sets won of the last 37 in the Grand Slam. “Yes, the issue of concentration in games is something that has been worked on for a long time. It is linked to the maturity of a player. We are talking about someone who comes to the circuit and breaks all the records. It was something that had to mature. He has been working on it and little by little it is achieved with some type of work to maintain attention. Every day he has fewer ups and downs, but there are still some. Because it is impossible to maintain a line. He is doing very well.”
The role of coaches without great titles as a player. Alcaraz considers him one of the best, if not the best. “That is normal for it to happen. It also happens in other sports like football. When Zidane arrives at Madrid, the one who has been an elite player has an advantage over the coach who comes from below. Each one has their advantages and disadvantages. I have not been able to live the experiences of playing Grand Slam finals on the court. I have had the experience of accompanying people to big rounds, such as semi-finals and finals. The figure of a former player who has been number one is valued more than that of a coach who does not have that name. I thank Carlos for his words and I do try to be one of the best, of course.
The one who has been an elite player has an advantage over the coach who comes from below
Samuel Lopez
Funny messages in games. “I have always been a bit like that. I like to communicate with the player with words and phrases in which he understands what I am saying because they have arisen before in training. It is a way of giving instructions in a happy way, without giving it so much importance. I emphasize a lot that this is a game, our lives are not going to work with this, it is not going to change anything. Of course, everyone wants him to win and he even more so. Even with Nico (Almagro), with the character he had, I already sent him messages to break up. with stress and tension.
Learn to listen. “I believe that Carlos continues to mature, almost all of us do that. Learning to listen is the most important thing to know what they are telling you. And then he is learning to communicate. The player grows with a discipline that they tell you and you do. There is the learning of the monkey, that of the horse and that of the adolescent, who begins to be mature and enters into reflections. But the reflections have to be giving your opinion and Carlos is in that phase in which he gives his opinion of what he believes and talks about it and reaches an agreement.
Change in training in the last year. “Absolutely nothing has changed. We already had everything planned. What we have added is that he was more involved. What has changed in my case is the fact that the responsibility falls a little more on me. I do the work as best as possible and then the fish is sold.
Carlos is in the phase in which he gives his opinion on what he believes, talks and an agreement is reached.
Samuel Lopez
Improvements in Carlitos’ tennis. “I think he has evolved in practically everything and where he has to improve the most is in the first shots, both in the serve and the next and in the rest and the next. Nowadays in tennis it is very important how the point is started. He has evolved in that aspect, but he has to continue doing it and understand that not everything is power. We have worked a lot on precision, placement, depth of the returns… “
Hesitations about the offer to be his first coach. “Let’s see, you always think about it because I have to travel for many more weeks. I have a wife and two children and I talked about it with them and you assess if it is worth it. Logically, an opportunity like this for a coach who is not renowned is very difficult for it to appear to you. You have to be lucky. There are technicians out there who are very good and you learn a lot when you talk to them.
Bring a player of Alcaraz’s level. “What I’m looking for is to give 100 percent. And I’ve gotten as far as I’ve gotten. You feel that pressure in the first rounds of the Grand Slam and even more so with the situation we were in. After all this, you start to feel more comfortable. There will always be pressure. It would be stupid to say no.
From building the Ferrero Tennis Academy to guiding the number one. “30 years ago I wouldn’t have believed it, but I already traveled with Juan Carlos (Ferrero) as number one. He was 22 years old and I must have been 32 and we traveled several times. At that time, I didn’t think that I would travel with someone else.
Low profile trainer. “It is one of the great satisfactions I have. A friend told me this. I have valued that you can get here without being a mega star as a player. Working from the grassroots, from mini tennis to adults. You can get to the top with passion for what you do and looking for the way.”
Alcaraz, prepared for the semifinals. “I see Carlos well and mentally prepared. You have to accept when things go wrong and continue focusing on your game, on how you like to play. The other day he was wearing the Brazil shirt: play well, put on a show… If you have a good attitude accepting things, in the end it will work out because he is in a moment in which tennis comes and takes him out. Zverev is very complicated and he is going to score a lot how he serves. It is going to be a nice battle.”
