Juan Carlos Ferrero has admitted has described Djokovic’s level as outrageous and admitted that watching the 24-time Grand Slam champion play makes him drool.
The top coach praised Djokovic for his poise during the hot moments and defined his ability to stay calm during the pressure situations as “unique”. Djokovic sealed a record-extending 8th year-end No.1 crown while also registering a record 7th ATP Finals title in Turin to get one ahead of his great rival Federer.
Djokovic downed Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals of the season-ending championships before edging Italian Jannik Sinner in a 6-3, 6-3 emphatic win to claim the title.
The 36-year-old has bagged 7 titles in 2023 that include three of the four majors, having only lost to Ferrero’s charge Alcaraz in the 5-set Wimbledon earlier in July. The legendary Serbian leads the head-to-head series against the 20-year-old 3-2 after beating him at the ATP Finals in Turin.
Talking with El Larguero, Ferrero showered praise for the World No. 1 as he outlined some of the qualities which separate him from the rest on the tour.
I’m running out of praise. I drool watching him when he plays, how he touches the ball, how he moves. When he’s mentally fine, and he doesn’t get distracted by certain things, it’s outrageous,” said the 16-time ATP tour titlist.
“How he handles the times and how he handles the hot moments of the game is unique. It has an impressive quality, while putting pressure on you absolutely at all points.
“There is not once that you see him miss two balls in a row throughout the game, not once and, in that aspect, he achieves almost excellence. That tells you how good he wants to be and how good he is.”
Ferrero declared that the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who he considers the greatest player of all time, is the perfect example for his pupil Alcaraz to try to emulate.
“We have to follow that trail. Beyond the numbers, for me it’s the best, but it’s complicated,” the Spanish former World No. 1 said.
“Without a doubt. You may like Roger Federer more for his way of playing or Rafael Nadal for his dedication and everything that each one has achieved. His merits are undeniable, but for me Novak is the best in history.”
The 2003 Roland Garros champion, who called time on his outstanding career in 2012, also believes that improving on indoor hard-courts will take time for Alcaraz.
“Having the level of it on this surface, I think it requires time and many hours on this type of tracks. Obviously, it’s not an excuse, but I think that the fast track hasn’t benefited us,” the 43-year-old admitted.
“I suppose that in that aspect you have to spend more hours, train more in this type of situation, and I think that the mental level has made the tennis level not there. He has had two mistakes again, for which the game is going away.
“I think that in that aspect you have to be more constant. He knows that he has to improve for the future, especially to play with the best.”