Serena Williams' ex-coach urges Carlos Alcaraz to do what Roger Federer did if he wants to become World No. 1 again in 2025
Serena Williams' former coach Rick Macci spoke about a few things that Carlos Alcaraz needs to do to regain the World No. 1 ranking in 2025. The Spaniard started 2024 as the World No. 2 but finished as the No. 3.
Alcaraz didn't have the best of endings to the season, as he suffered a third-round defeat at the Paris Masters and was eliminated in the round-robin of the ATP Finals after winning one of three matches. The Spaniard was thus surpassed by Alexander Zverev and dropped out of the top 2.
More than 15 months have passed since Alcaraz was the World No. 1, but Serena Williams' former coach Rick Macci has said that the 21-year-old is capable of regaining the top spot. Macci said that the Spaniard would have to improve the numbers on his first serve and that his spots needed to be like those of Roger Federer's.
"If his % on the first serve get Better and his spots get like Federer look for the Spanish Magician by year end will regain the pole position," Rick Macci said.
For the 2024 season, Carlos Alcaraz got 65% of his first serves in, winning 73% of points.
Carlos Alcaraz's make-up speed lauded by Rick Macci
Alcaraz is known for his speed and agility, and Rick Macci lauded his make up speed, claiming that it's unlike anything tennis has ever seen.
"His make up speed is like the game has never Seen. If you have not Seen it, then you cannot see what I mean," Macci tweeted.
While the Spaniard was unable to end 2024 in the top 2 of the ATP rankings, he produced some impressive performances, winning 54 of 67 matches. The 21-year-old won the French Open and defended his title at Wimbledon.
He also had a successful title defense at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and won the China Open after edging out World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the final.
Carlos Alcaraz is scheduled to start his 2025 season at the Australian Open. The 21-year-old had his best-ever outing at the Melbourne Major in 2024, reaching the quarter-finals, where he lost to Alexander Zverev.