Alcaraz’s coach makes Federer confession after starlet denied wish

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Carlos Alcaraz’s coach has confessed that Roger Federer is the “only” player who can make his opponents feel inferior. Juan Carlos Ferrero looked back on his experience of facing the 41-year-old after Federer ended his career at the Laver Cup. The Swiss star’s retirement denied Alcaraz the chance to get his wish of facing Federer on the match court.

Federer’s 24-year career came to an end at last week’s Laver Cup, as he returned to London’s O2 Arena for his last dance. The 41-year-old had not played for 14 months after undergoing a third right knee surgery, and announced he would be retiring after his body failed to get back to where he needed it to return to competition.

Tributes have been pouring in for the 103-time title winner since he announced the news while his old rivals have been sharing their memories of facing off on the match court, and Alcaraz’s coach Ferrero is no different. The former world No 1 started their head-to-head with a 2-0 lead after two meetings back in 2000 but ended his career with a 3-10 losing record against Federer.

Looking back on their rivalry, the 2003 French Open champion told Eurosport: “Roger is the only one with whom I have felt inferior when I have played against him, in the sense of seeing that when he played his tennis, you noticed that he was superior, at least in my case. I have not felt that with anyone else, only against him in a match.”

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Ferrero’s confession comes as his own charge Alcaraz has been denied his wish of facing the Swiss star on the match court. The 19-year-old became the youngest world No 1 in history earlier this month when he won his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open, but admitted there was still one thing he wanted to do in tennis. 

“Playing against Federer would excite me,” he told the ATP after his triumph in Flushing Meadows, but Alcaraz has now been denied the chance with the former world No 1 retiring before they ever got a chance to face off.

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And the 41-year-old himself shared his disappointment not to have had the chance to play the Spanish starlet when arriving at his final tournament at the Laver Cup last week. “Of course, it’s disappointing I was never able to play against him,” Federer said.

“Of course I watched him closely what he did at the US Open and throughout the year. It’s been fantastic, and I always said there will be always new superstars in the game, and he’s one of them. The game is bright.”

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