With Ferrero absent, Alcaraz set for uncharted waters at Australian Open

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If Carlos Alcaraz is to win his first Australian Open crown and return to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, he will have to do it without long-term coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

The 20-year-old has worked with Ferrero since 2019 and won his first two major titles with the Spaniard present. However, former World No. 1 Ferrero is not in Melbourne as he is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

Alcaraz will be coached by Samuel Lopez, who helped the World No. 2 win the Queen’s Club title last season when Ferrero was absent.

“It's tough not being with him,” Alcaraz said when asked about Ferrero during his pre-tournament press conference on Saturday. “Obviously he travels to almost 100 per cent of the tournaments. He missed just one or two last year. It's going to be difficult to approach a big tournament without him.

“I have Sam with me, who is a great coach as well. He was the coach of Juan Carlos when he was playing. I trust him. I believe in him. I think I can learn a lot from him. Let's see how it is going to be. I trust him 100 per cent.”

Alcaraz has no points to defend after missing last year’s event due to injury and can return to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings this fortnight. As the defending champion, Novak Djokovic will drop 2000 points when the Pepperstone ATP Rankings are released on the Monday after the Open concludes.

So as he begins his quest for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title, Djokovic will hold a slender 200 point lead over the 12-time tour-level titlist in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. If Alcaraz reaches the semi-finals and Djokovic falls at the quarter-final stage, the Spaniard will return to No. 1. The same applies if Alcaraz advances to the final and the Serbian loses in the semi-finals. If Alcaraz falls in the quarter-finals and Djokovic at the fourth-round stage, the Serbian will remain at No. 1. If they both advance to the final, the winner will move to top spot.

Djokovic has not lost at the hard-court major since 2018 when he fell to Hyeon Chung in the fourth round. Alcaraz revealed that the Serbian’s historic record in Melbourne provides him with incentive.

“It's an extra motivation for me. I'm an ambitious guy,” said Alcaraz, who trails Djokovic 2-3 in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series. “I always want to play against the best players in the world to see what my level is. It's a good test, playing against him in the places or in the tournament that he's almost unbeaten.

“I am looking to reach the final and hopefully playing a final against him. It would be great. Knowing those stats, it's an extra motivation.”

Alcaraz enjoyed another impressive season in 2023. He won six tour-level trophies including the Wimbledon crown, defeating Djokovic in the final. The Spaniard, who has not competed since the Nitto ATP Finals in November, is ready to make further improvements in 2024.

“I'm excited about this year. I hope it's going to be as good as the 2023,” Alcaraz said. “I have prepared really well. We are going to start with this tournament. I think I had good preparation coming to this year.

“I think right now we have to improve with the things that I didn't do well last year… On the court, off the court. I think everybody can be better. Everybody can improve their things. I'm not perfect.”

The second seed begins his Australian Open campaign against Richard Gasquet on Tuesday.