Alcaraz's serve has long been considered not powerful enough, to the point where some tennis experts have called out Ferrero, saying "Alcaraz needs to change his serve." Some even suggested that Roddick should be invited for a few weeks of specialized guidance. At the time, Ferrero remained unmoved, believing the timing was not right.
Now, it may be time for a necessary change.
Alcaraz revealed:
"We know that serving is an area I need to improve, and we need to do something about it. The serve must be more precise, which I haven't been able to achieve before.
"The new motion is more relaxed, much more relaxed, with a more flexible wrist, aiming to improve my timing on shots, and there's no pause when the racket reaches its highest point, making the entire motion smoother."
He elaborated: "This will also affect certain aspects in matches, for example, I won't be as tense, and tension can take a toll on the body."
In addition to changes in his serve, Alcaraz has also made adjustments to his racket, adding a 5-gram lead strip to the racket's neck to increase weight. Alcaraz said he feels good about the added weight, swinging it as freely as before, without any unusual sensations in his arm. He believes this change will be beneficial because it adds power to his shots, which is always useful for specific shots like receiving serves.
Alcaraz's draw at the Australian Open is not easy. In the first round, he faces Shevchenko, and in the fourth round, he is likely to face No. 15 seed Draper. In the quarterfinals, Djokovic, Zverev, and Sinner are likely to be direct opponents.
Let's witness the changes in Alcaraz's serve and the power of his new racket together!