Carlos Alcaraz on his work with a sports psychologist
Carlos Alcaraz discusses his collaboration with sports psychologist Isabel Balaguer. He reveals that Balaguer is a significant part of his team, but she doesn’t communicate with him directly as often as before. Instead, his coaches Juan Carlos Ferrero and Samu relay instructions to her, who then pass them to him on court. Alcaraz says he talks to Balaguer mainly when he feels the need to vent or speak with someone.
Key details from the interview
- Alcaraz turns to Balaguer to vent about something when necessary.
- Since the Miami Masters, he hasn’t felt the need to vent, noting good form both on and off the court.
- Ferrero and Samu act as the primary communicators with Balaguer, while Alcaraz talks to her less directly.
- He mentions that Balaguer’s involvement is meaningful, but direct conversations with her have diminished over time.
“I’m talking less and less with her. It’s a relationship where Juanqui and Samu talk to her a lot to give her instructions so that she can then pass them on to me on court. I talk to her when I feel the need to vent and speak with someone. Thank God, since Miami I haven’t had that feeling of needing to vent because everything has gone really well. Both on and off the court, I’ve felt very good.”
In the interview with Spanish media, Alcaraz clarifies that Balaguer remains a key part of his team, though the flow of direct communication has shifted toward his primary coaches.
Context and implications
The answer highlights a collaborative support structure around Alcaraz, where the core strategy and on‑court guidance come through a chain of communication from coaches to Balaguer, who then informs the player as needed. This arrangement underscores a dynamic approach to coaching and mental preparation at the highest level of tennis.