Reaching the Wimbledon semifinals has made Alcaraz the first player to qualify for the ATP Finals later this year, with 4 months still remaining. The 22-year-old leads the tour in titles (5) and match wins (47) this year. He is also currently on a 23-match winning streak.

"Confident? Definitely," Ferrero said when asked about his feelings before the final Wimbledon matches, where Alcaraz is defending his title, a feat he has accomplished for two consecutive years. "Alcaraz is inspiring tremendous confidence. He's showing high-level tennis from one tournament to the next. Even though I knew he was well-prepared, I'm still incredibly impressed."

Alcaraz (left) and coach Ferrero practicing at the All England Club, Wimbledon, on 10/7. Photo: Reuters

Alcaraz (left) and coach Ferrero practicing at the All England Club, Wimbledon, on 10/7. Photo: Reuters

Alcaraz reached the finals of every clay-court tournament he entered, missing out on the Barcelona Open title only due to injury. He then went on to win the Queen’s Club Championship on grass, and enjoyed 10 successful days at Wimbledon. His win percentage this season stands at 90.4%.

"Alcaraz has champion DNA," Ferrero praised his student. "Mental strength is Alcaraz's advantage. He showed this clearly in the Roland Garros final. Of course, he still has room for improvement and won't stop here."

Alcaraz leads the rankings with 7,540 points going into his Wimbledon semifinal against Taylor Fritz. He is significantly ahead of second-placed Jannik Sinner by 2,240 points, partly due to the Italian player's three-month suspension. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, in third place, has earned 3,880 points.

"I always remind Alcaraz to give his all," Ferrero added. "When he finds joy on the court, he's very difficult to beat. Balancing emotions on and off the court is always challenging. But I think Alcaraz stands out in this regard. He truly enjoys tennis."

If he defeats Fritz, Alcaraz will reach his third consecutive Wimbledon final, with the opportunity to become the first male player in nearly half a century to win both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in two consecutive seasons.

In recent years, Alcaraz has typically excelled in the first half of the year before experiencing a dip in form towards the end. He has yet to reach the ATP Finals final, and last year he was eliminated in the group stage. According to Ferrero, he and the team are working hard to help Alcaraz improve this, both mentally and tactically, particularly on hard courts.

Vy Anh