Ferrero warns Sinner: "We know that Carlos (Alcaraz) has a chance of winning".

Juan Carlos Ferrero, like a good mentor, is pinning his hopes on Alcaraz for tomorrow's clash with the world's new number 1, Jannik Sinner. And with good reason: after a sluggish start to the tournament, the young Spaniard took the Philippe Chatrier court by storm in the quarter-finals against Tsitsipas (6-3, 7-6, 6-4).

Just enough to leave his coach thinking: "If Carlos (Alcaraz) plays at his level, we know he has a chance of winning any tournament he enters". This Friday's duel, which has been eagerly awaited since the draw, and to which some are giving the appearance of an anticipated final, will therefore be an opportunity for the two rising tennis stars to face off. A moment not seen since March, at the Indian Wells tournament, when 'Carlito' put an end to his Italian rival's unbeaten run (19 wins since the Davis Cup in November 2023).

Since then, as Ferrero explains, progress has been made on both sides of the net: "Jannik has improved a lot on this surface, in his variety of play. He's playing more shots and a bit more groundstrokes. He's evolved and is training for it. Carlos knows how he should play and so does Jannik."

With Alcaraz out with an injured arm and Sinner with a hip injury, it's a clash of returnees this afternoon. By dint of determination and talent, they made it all the way to the semi-finals, and at this stage it would be hard to say who will play in Sunday's men's final. Ferrero had this to say on the subject, and if he believes in his player, for him: "Both have pulled out of some clay-court tournaments due to injury. They're equal favourites".

Whether his journey to Porte d'Auteuil ends this Friday afternoon or continues until Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz can count on the unfailing support of Ferrero, who himself admits, with a smile, to being: "Sometimes a coach, sometimes a friend", but nevertheless leaves: "the role of father to his father."