Former Wimbledon Marion Bartoli expressed concern that Carlos Alcaraz could soon retire from his peak playing career after parting ways with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
"I am really concerned about one aspect. Alcaraz possesses a rare natural talent, but that also means it is not easy to find a suitable new coach to start over.
He needs a clear plan with the right person. Otherwise, Alcaraz could well leave tennis at the age of 25 or 26, like Bjorn Borg. Carlos is a genius and we don't want to see that scenario" - Bartoli shared.
Since the beginning of his career, Alcaraz has won a total of 24 titles, all under the leadership of Ferrero. Bartoli related Alcaraz's case to Bjorn Borg - a Swedish tennis legend who caused a stir in 1982 when he announced his retirement at the age of 26, although he was still at the peak of his form.
In his career, Borg won 66 titles, including 11 Grand Slams, held the world No. 1 position for 109 weeks and was considered one of the greatest tennis players in history.
The early "ted-off" of Borg comes from the huge pressure of popularity at a young age, the harshness of the professional tennis environment and the desire to live a normal life. Bartoli believes that these are also potential challenges that Alcaraz could face after parting ways with Ferrero.
"What happens in the next 6 months will be a testing phase, accompanied by many mistakes. Many names will be mentioned, who is suitable, who is not. Of course, being led by an outstanding player like Alcaraz is a great opportunity for any coach," Bartoli said.
Marion Bartoli is a former French tennis player who impressed with his right-handed and left-handed play with both hands. She has won 8 titles in her career, with the peak being the 2013 Wimbledon championship, and also rising to the world number seven position.
