A Spaniard prepares Alcaraz and Badosa in California

Carlos Alcaraz and Paula Badosa are triumphing these days in Indian Wells with physical and aggressive tennis that, for now, is unstoppable for their rivals. The two have reached the semifinals without losing a single set. The 18-year-old from Murcia faces Rafa Nadal on Saturday (9:00 p.m., #Vamos) and the 24-year-old Catalan plays this Friday (3:30 a.m., Teledeporte and DAZN) against the Greek Maria Sakkari. Another Spaniard, Alejandro García Cenzano, an experienced sparring partner with a prestigious career on the circuit at the age of 26, has had his share of responsibility for his success.

The man from Madrid, who already made himself known at AS during the 2019 US Open, combines tennis classes with trips to the main tournaments on the ATP and WTA circuits. In recent seasons he has helped other tennis players like himself Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Nick Kyrgios, Victoria Azarenka, Karolina Pliskova, Karen Khachanov, Key Nishikori, Julia Goerges … And recently has collaborated in Garbiñe Muguruza’s training weeks. He has been working as hitting partner since 2017, when he debuted at the Mutua Madrid Open after having competed to gain experience and with the idea of ​​being a coach. It was, for example, the Paraguayan Verónica Cepede Roig.

At the BNP Paribas Open he has been able to see first-hand the form that Alcaraz and Badosa are going through. “Carlos’s forehand is brutal, and how he plays on the court and goes forward. He presses very, very well. Then, with mobility, he recovers phenomenally”, he comments. “Paula, in my opinion, is doing very well in this tournament, because the court is not that fast and the ball bounces. You have time to generate. When he supports his legs well and shoots, he generates a lot. In fact, it’s overwhelming them all,” he adds.

uncertain prognosis

When making a prediction about the semifinal between Alcaraz and Nadal, two players he knows, Alex has doubts: “Pffff… there, there. Rafa’s experience is a degree, but things are becoming more equitable. Carlos is growing by leaps and bounds. It’s not going to be like the Madrid match (last year Rafa won 6-1 and 6-2).”