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Carlos Alcaraz influences fellow professionals not only with his on-court performances but also through his training habits. His unique practice routines have spread across the tours, though one WTA star is less than impressed with his latest method.
Coco Gauff Blames Alcaraz for Unconventional Drills
Coco Gauff posted Instagram Stories documenting herself attempting an unusual exercise with a modified tennis racquet. She jokingly blamed Alcaraz for inspiring her coaches to introduce the routine.
Gauff wrote in her first Story while tagging Alcaraz, “The type of stuff my coach make me do when I’m tryna be non chalant. @carlitosalcarazz look what you have done smh.” She added a second post stating, “Never back down never give up,” accompanied by a crying-face emoji while dealing with the challenging drill.
The “Ghost Racket” Method Explained
The exercise centers on the “Ghost Racket” method, which features a custom-modified frame lacking strings and containing a large opening in the middle where the sweet spot usually sits. Only the outer hoop stays intact, making it vastly different from standard tennis equipment.
The drill aims to test a player’s hand-eye coordination, ball tracking, and positioning. Because the middle of the frame is absent, athletes must monitor the ball’s exact position and adjust their movements carefully while practicing their strokes.
Alcaraz previously used the modified racquet while dealing with a right-wrist injury, allowing him to practice certain aspects of his game without hitting balls directly against a normal string bed.
Tour Updates for Gauff and Alcaraz
While Gauff prepares for her upcoming matches, Alcaraz continues his campaign on the ATP Tour. The Spaniard secured a straight-sets victory over Karen Khachanov at the Vienna Open, setting up a round of 16 match against either Jurij Rodionov or Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Gauff’s next major competition is the WTA Finals, where she aims to conclude her season strongly against the top competitors on the women’s tour.
