Carlos Alcaraz starts his pre-season with two young stars as he eyes a big 2025

Carlos Alcaraz has returned to training at the Ferrero Tennis Academy after a week of exhibition matches against Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. The four-time Grand Slam champion wasted no time, getting back to work on Monday, as reported by Marca.

Alcaraz is training with World No. 15 Jack Draper and No. 32 Flavio Cobolli, both visiting the academy in Spain. These contemporaries of Alcaraz have shown promise and could be key figures in the upcoming season.

Alcaraz has faced Draper three times on the ATP Tour, winning at the 2022 Basel Open and the 2023 Indian Wells. However, Draper claimed victory in their latest meeting at the 2023 Queen’s Club Championships, defeating Alcaraz in straight sets in front of a home crowd.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz and Cobolli are yet to meet at the Tour level, though they crossed paths in the first round of qualifying at the 2020 Todi Challenger. Cobolli, now 22, had a breakthrough season in 2024, achieving his career-best ranking and securing wins against notable players like Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Nicolás Jarry.

Last year, Alcaraz worked alongside Jannik Sinner during pre-season training in Alicante. This year, however, Sinner has opted to prepare for the Australian Open in Dubai, where he will aim to defend his title.

Both Alcaraz and Sinner are set to arrive in Melbourne in early January, skipping warm-up tournaments. Alcaraz will participate in two charity exhibitions at the Rod Laver Arena on January 8 and 10. Despite a packed schedule, Alcaraz will take time this Friday to attend the launch of Los Pies en la Tierra (“Feet on the ground”), an exhibition by the Fundación Alcaraz promoting equal opportunities for children and showcasing the tennis star’s life journey.