Carlos Alcaraz will hope to be better prepared than his opponents for the 2024 ATP Finals after his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, installed the same surface used for the year-end tournament for the 21-year-old to practice on.
Alcaraz began his indoor hardcourt season at the ongoing Paris Masters, having elected not to play at the Vienna Open or the Swiss Indoors in Basel that took place during the previous week.
The four-time Grand Slam champion was confident of doing better this year after poor results by his high standards in previous iterations of the Paris Masters, including a second-round loss in 2023 against Roman Safiullin.
Alcaraz played well in his opening match against Nicolas Jarry. He prevailed 7-5, 6-1, breaking Jarry's powerful serve an impressive five times in the fast conditions in the French capital.
Despite performing solidly, Alcaraz did not like the court. This year's French Open champion called it slippery and was surprised at how much faster it was compared to previous years at the tournament.
Ugo Humbert ended Alcaraz's hopes of going further than previous years. After an incredible performance in front of a loud and passionate home crowd, he beat the Spaniard 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.
Alcaraz made his feelings about the court clear again after that match, stating he was not sure why the organizers would make it so much faster than the previous years, and it meant he could not prepare effectively beforehand.
The courts at the ATP Finals in Turin have been quite fast in the last couple of years, but not as speedy as the 2024 Paris Masters, which was rated the quickest on the ATP Tour in the previous ten years.
However, the difference in speed in Paris compared to previous iterations of the event demonstrates that players cannot assume a tournament will be the same every year. Precise preparation is needed to ensure that players practice on courts that will replicate those used during matches.
MARCA reports that Ferrero has taken steps to do that by having the same surface that will be used at the ATP Finals installed at his prestigious tennis academy for Alcaraz to practice on beforehand.
The court that will be used at the 2024 ATP Finals is from the GreenSet Brand. That brand is also responsible for the courts at the venue for the Davis Cup Finals, where Rafael Nadal will make his final professional appearance.
Alcaraz and Ferrero have already tested the court that was installed in October. Both men are happy that it should replicate what the Spaniard will face at the ATP Finals, which starts on November 10th.
Having a coach who was not only a great player but also runs his own academy could be a pivotal advantage for Alcaraz. Not every player who qualifies for the ATP Finals has the luxury of asking for a court to be installed.
Whether that helps Alcaraz remains to be seen. For now, he will take some time to recover after another disappointing performance at the final Masters 1000 tournament of the year in Paris.
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