In 2019, Roger Federer prepared himself for what he anticipated to be an ordinary practice session at Wimbledon.
Ahead of his quarter-final match against Kei Nishikori, the Swiss tennis maestro sought assistance from the esteemed Spanish player, Juan Carlos Ferrero, to warm up.
As Federer\’s warm-up drew to a close, Ferrero introduced him to a young and promising Spanish talent named Carlos Alcaraz.
While the accuracy of the exact statements cannot be confirmed, there is speculation that Ferrero encouraged Federer to test his skills against the budding prodigy.
Regardless, this encounter foreshadowed Alcaraz\’s extraordinary future.
In 2020, Alcaraz even reflected on this experience during an interview with Tennis Majors, stating, \”It was an incredibly positive experience for me. I felt elated afterward and gained invaluable knowledge. Initially, I felt a bit anxious due to the presence of numerous spectators, but as the practice continued, I grew more relaxed and ultimately relished the opportunity.\”
Fast forward four years from that encounter as a 17-year-old hitting with Federer, and Alcaraz has now become a Wimbledon champion.
