Carlos Alcaraz has been handed a big inconvienience at the Olympics. (Image: Getty.)
Carlos Alcaraz has been handed a big problem before the 2024 Olympics with Rafael Nadal.
Carlos Alcaraz has been dealt the prospect of playing at the 2024 Olympic Games without a key figure in his corner, Juan Carlos Ferrero. The Wimbledon champion is heading to Paris to play alongside his Spanish compatriot Rafael Nadal, but will be forced to do so without his influential coach.
Alcaraz recently admitted that there are moments on-court where he doesn’t “really know what to do” and often blindly follows the instructions of the 2003 French Open champion, thanks to the introduction of in-game coaching.
Ferrero can often be heard advising Alcaraz during matches, which before the summer of 2022 would have been illegal, and has been outlawed at this summer’s Olympics in a major blow to the 21-year-old.
“In the vast majority of cases, I apply what Juan Carlos advises me to do,” Alcaraz admitted to L’Equipe. “The coach is there to support you and to give you the best instructions for you. So, I apply. There are plenty of moments where I don’t really know what to do on the court. Others where I get frustrated because I can’t find the right way to play.”
But section K of the Olympics’ code of conduct, published by the International Tennis Federation in accordance with the International Olympic Committee, states that such coaching is banned at the Games and those found guilty can be fined up to £15,000 and potentially even defaulted.
The law states: “Players shall not receive coaching during a match. Communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a team member may be construed as coaching.
“Players shall also prohibit their team member (1) from using audible obscenity within the precincts of the site, (2) from making obscene gestures of any kind within the precincts of the site, (3) from verbally abusing any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the site, (4) from physically abusing any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the site and (5) from giving, making, issuing, authorising or endorsing any public statement within the precincts of the site having, or designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of the Olympic tennis event, the Olympic Games and/or of the officiating thereof.
“Violation of this Section shall subject a player to a fine up to $20,000 for each violation. In addition, if such violation occurs during a match, the player shall be penalised in accordance with the Point Penalty Schedule.
“In circumstances that are flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of the Olympic tennis event, or are singularly egregious, the referee may order the team member to be removed from the Olympic tennis event site and upon their failure to comply with such order may declare an immediate default of such player.”
Without Ferrero vocally in his corner, it remains to be seen what effect his absence will have on Alcaraz, but he will have the experienced Nadal alongside him for the doubles competition at the very least.
