Carlos
Alcaraz became the second-youngest player to lift the US Open in history on
Sunday. Alcaraz beat Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 is the final to also
become the world no. 1 in tennis right now. The 19-year-old Alcaraz is coached
by Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former world no. 1 himself. Following the match, a
teary-eyed and emotional Alcaraz went to Ferrero to celebrate his victory. He
said Juan Carlos Ferrero is a “second father” to him and dedicated his victory
to his mentor.

“Thanks to
him I’m lifting this trophy today. If I [didn’t have] Juan Carlos Ferrero in
the box, Juan Carlos [as] my coach, it wouldn’t be possible for me…Juan Carlos
is my second father. He could train a lot of top players but he decides to be
with me,” said the newest world no.1 in tennis.

Who is
Juan Carlos Ferrero?

Juan Carlos
Ferrero, the man who coached the current world no. 1 in tennis, is a former
world no. 1. The 42-year-old Spanish tennis player was a runner up in the 2002
French Open as well as in the 2003 US Open. He won 16 ATP titles, including four
Masters 1000 events. For his speed, Juan Carlos Ferrero was nicknamed “Mosquito”.

Juan Carlos
Ferrero was born on February 12, 1980 in Ontinyent, Spain. He has two sisters
Ana and Laura. Ferrero started playing tennis at the age of seven. His father
Eduardo would often take him to partake in tournaments. Ferrero went on to
become one of the best clay court players in the world during his prime.  

The “Mosquito”
started playing professional tennis in 1998 by reaching the finals of his first
Futures tournament in Italy. He made his first ATP main draw debut at the Grand
Prix Hassan II as a qualifier, and made it to the semi-finals.

After the
end of his playing career, Carlos Ferrero first started coaching Alexander
Zverev, the world no. 1 tennis player at the time. However, differences in opinion
led to the end of that arrangement. In 2019, Juan Carlos Ferrero started
coaching Carlos Alcaraz, who was 16 years old at the time.