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'What do they want? For him to win every tournament?' - David Ferrer defends 'special' Carlos Alcaraz after criticism, makes Rafael Nadal comparison
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Updated 19/04/2025 at 22:12 GMT+1
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Carlos Alcaraz won his first Masters tournament in over a year at the Monte-Carlo Masters last weekend, and on Sunday he plays Holger Rune in the final of the Barcelona Open. The 21-year-old has been criticised for some of his form this year, but Spain's Davis Cup captain David Ferrer has defended Alcaraz, suggesting that expectations placed upon the youngster are unrealistic.
Alcaraz
Image credit: Getty Images
David Ferrer has defended Carlos Alcaraz after recent criticism, saying the 21-year-old is a "special player" on the same level as Rafael Nadal.
Alcaraz won the Monte-Carlo Masters last weekend, beating Lorenzo Musetti after falling a set behind.
The Spaniard started the season with an early success at the Rotterdam Open, but was not at his best when he lost to Jack Draper at Indian Wells, and then suffered an early defeat to David Goffin in the second round of the Miami Open.
His win in Monaco was his first Masters title in over a year, and he could win another high-profile event on Sunday, when he plays Holger Rune in the final of the Barcelona Open.
Spain's Davis Cup captain and former world No. 3 Ferrer suggested that Spanish tennis fans expect too much from Alcaraz, and praised the success he has already achieved.
Ferrer, speaking to Eurosport Spain, said: "In Spain, we're like that; it's a cultural thing. How many times did people retire Rafa after an injury and then he came back better?
"Carlos is 21 and has won four Grand Slams, an icon at 21!
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‘Means a lot in front of my people’ – Alcaraz on reaching the final in Barcelona
Video credit: SNTV
"What do they want? For him to win every tournament? Carlos is a special player, on Rafa's level, so let's enjoy him."
He also suggested that Alcaraz suffers from the effect of social media, adding: "Nowadays, with social media, [the players] are very exposed, and they're also very young players. It's not the same thing criticising him as criticising me at 43 [years old].
"When I was his age, I didn't have the maturity I have now. As mature as Carlos is, he's still very young, so it's normal for it to affect him a little."
Ferrer believes that Alcaraz has the ability to win when he is not at his best, and that is a testament to his overall quality.
"That has a lot of value," he claimed, commenting on Alcaraz's Monte Carlo win without reaching his best.
"These are different players; they have a very high level. The same thing happened to Rafa, [Novak] Djokovic, or Roger [Federer].
"In my case, I couldn't afford not to play well. I could play poorly in an ATP 250 tournament and win, but in a Masters 1000..."
‘I felt sorry’ for Nadal after Davis Cup defeat - Ferrer
Ferrer, as Davis Cup captain for Spain, oversaw Nadal’s last professional involvement in the sport before he retired.
Nadal was beaten by The Netherlands' Botic van de Zandschulp, a defeat that led to a muted exit for one of the greatest players of the sport.
Ferrer was asked if he regretted picking Nadal for the match given the defeat and the manner of Nadal’s exit.
He replied: "At first, until you see them [the players] compete, you can't make a decision. I made that decision consciously, confident that it would go well.
"I didn't make it because it was Rafa or because it was his last event.
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Nadal bids tearful farewell as career ends with Davis Cup Finals defeat
Video credit: SNTV
"I truly believed Rafa was going to compete at a very high level, I thought he was going to win, but then it didn't work out."
Afterwards, Ferrer said there was "a lot of sadness, of course.
"Then, as the days go by, you see everything differently.
"When you see how Rafa handled it, that in the end he was the protagonist, it also calms you down.
"I felt sorry, because he's a friend of mine and I love him very much. That he lost and then that there wasn't a better tribute from the ITF saddened me, but his career wasn't going to change no matter what happened that weekend."
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