“Not Move the Needle” – Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Questions Ben Shelton’s Decision to Hire Juan Carlos Ferrero
· Yahoo Sports
Ben Shelton’s decision to add Juan Carlos Ferrero has drawn criticism from Serena Williams’ former coach, Rick Macci, who said the addition may not significantly improve the American’s game.
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Carlos Alcaraz’s former coach, Ferrero, will join Shelton’s team to work alongside his father, Bryan, which the American tennis player confirmed on his Instagram story. Shelton, currently ranked No. 4, won four singles ATP titles this year. He also reached his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open after seeing off Carlos Alcaraz, but fell short against Alexander Zverev.
Shelton’s addition to his team ahead of next season drew criticism from Macci, who said the American’s biggest weakness is his backhand, which lacks proper connection between his lower and upper body, forcing him to generate power through his arms. He noted that, unlike a serve, changing backhand technique is difficult because of years of muscle memory.
“Shelton hiring Ferrero will probably not move the needle,” Macci wrote on his X. “Big Ben biomechanically on the backhand wing is disconnected from the ground up and has to manufacture racquet head speed from the arms too soon. Rewiring a groundstroke is a different animal than a serve because of the movement element and muscle memory baked in double crispy since he started playing as a kid. As a result, his backhand off the ground and return of serve is the microscopic but crucial flaw for the Florida Gator.”
Macci believed that a biomechanics expert could help Shelton improve his technique.
“Maybe a biomechanist with a brand-new, science-based approach could put Humpty Dumpty back together, with the body pulling the racquet through, not the racquet pulling the body. His backhand works because if you do 100 million of anything, it will get better, but maybe not optimal. But he has enough other tools in the toolbox to be dangerous, but because his backhand is disconnected, he will have many close matches that he should win easier.”
Ferrero led Alcaraz to his first six major titles before ending the partnership in December last year.
Ben Shelton dismisses claims of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz fading in dominance
In an interview during his run in Basel, Ben Shelton shared his view on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz when claims emerged that both were losing their dominance. Alcaraz suffered a wrist injury that kept the Spaniard off the court for more than four months. Sinner last appeared at the Wimbledon Championships, where he defended his title. He pulled out of the rest of the season, citing knee issues, prompting questions about whether the Spaniard and Italian tennis stars are losing their dominance.
Shelton addressed the claims, calling them unfair and highlighting Sinner and Alcaraz’s wins this season. He asserted that although the two players have missed several tournaments, their dominance hasn’t faded.
“I mean, they won two of the four slams this year; Sinner won five Masters 1000s,” Shelton said, as per Tennis Head. “I don’t know that their dominance has faded, you know. I think they’ll probably both be very healthy when it comes to the Australian Open next year, and it’s been sad for tennis, the time that they haven’t been able to play this year. But, you know, I wouldn’t go that far. I think there are a lot of young players who are competing more and more for bigger titles. But I think to say that they’re fading, that’s unfair.”
Alcaraz clinched the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and Japan Open, while Sinner won the Wimbledon Championships and five ATP titles.
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