Antonio M. Cascales has spent practically a whole lifetime in the world of tennis. After over a decade coaching children in Villena, a small Spanish city near Alicante, a young Juan Carlos Ferrero crossed his path, at just 10 years of age. The rest is a success story that is alive to this day through Carlos Alcaraz, who trains with Ferrero and is joined by Cascales for a few weeks every year.
The Spanish coach, recognised as July’s ATP Spotlight of the Month, spoke to ATPTour.com about his outstanding career, in which he has worked closely with two superstars who have reached No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings: Ferrero and Alcaraz.
“I’m surprised and very grateful because I still consider myself a coach, even though I spend few weeks on the ATP Tour now,” explains Cascales of his coach of the month accolade. “I used to be on the front line, and now my role is to support both of them, not just the player. Now I have much more experience and I have a better understanding of the relationship between a player and a coach that have been together since Carlos was young. Now I’m more understanding of the way a 21-year-old behaves.”
In 1994, Cascales opened a small academy in Villena with two clay courts and a clubhouse, which he established as a base together with his first pupils. That centre, which was also conceived to support Ferrero’s growth as a player, has changed location and expanded its facilities to become the Ferrero Tennis Academy, one of the most important academies in the world.
Martínez Cascales guided Ferrero, and was by the Valencian’s side for the biggest triumphs of his career, including the French Open (2003) and his climb to the pinnacle of the world rankings later that year, after reaching the final at the US Open.
“The player, as well as trusting his coach’s preparations and knowledge, must see that the decisions made by the coach are in their best interest,” says Cascales of his time with Ferrero. “Knowing that when they are wrong, we all make mistakes, and that it was with the player’s best interests at heart.”
[ATP APP]During all this time as a coach, Cascales has collected plenty of memories of two great champions; first Ferrero, then Alcaraz. Despite the fact that the latter still has a long career ahead of him, he has already provided the coach with plenty of unforgettable moments, with four Grand Slam titles to his name, among many other achievements.
“I have great memories of Juan Carlos playing Futures, and then playing and being favourite at big tournaments,” remembers the Spanish coach. The same thing is happening to me with Carlitos. I went with him to Challengers and had just as much fun as I do seeing him triumph on the big stage.
“I’ve had, and continue to have, great experiences with Juan Carlos and his family, as well as that of Carlitos,” continues Cascales. “We’ve had great experiences in the last few years, for example those really intense months when we were isolated during the pandemic at the Academy.”
After spending a lifetime with the Valencian, destiny decided that Cascales and Alcaraz’s paths should cross. At just 15 years of age, the young Murcia native started to practise with Ferrero. He also found a huge source of support in the coach from Alicante, who is normally with him when he trains at the academy and travels with the world No. 3 to a few tournaments every year.
“Interestingly, off court they are different, but on it, apart from the differences in their games, they are very similar: they both have everything I have said is necessary to be number one,” Cascales says, comparing the two players. “Also, I would add that they’re both very humble and it’s very easy to work with them because they have a great capacity to listen. Natural talent, competitiveness, ambition and a great work ethic.”
And the differences?
“As I was saying, off the court Juan Carlos is very level-headed and shy,” explains Cascales. “On the other hand, Carlos is more active and open. In terms of their games, Ferrero was a more solid player with a more organised game, while Carlitos is more creative. He always surprises us.”
At 66, Cascales’ career is in the bag. Although he still has plenty of time left, he has enough success under his belt to be able to look back with pride at so many achievements and so long among the elite.
“The thing I’m proudest of in both cases is having tried to make them good people as well as great players, and to look for a style of play that suits their way of seeing tennis and their character, and not my way of understanding tennis.”
That ‘way of understanding tennis’ has led him to be considered one of the best coaches in the world. Not bad!
[NEWSLETTER FORM]