Alcaraz's coach teases private Federer session with retired ace back on court

Carlos Alcaraz might have fallen in the quarter-final of the Shanghai Masters, but he was still present at the championship match. The world No. 2 sat alongside Roger Federer to watch Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic. It now appears both men got on the court during finals day, as Alcaraz’s coach teased a private practice session between his protege and the retired Swiss star. There were some star-studded spectators in attendance for the Shanghai Masters final. Alcaraz was spotted behind Sinner’s box with his brother and coach, former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero. They were soon joined by Federer, who took his seat between Alcaraz and Ferrero a few games into the first set. But it wasn’t the only tennis the trio enjoyed on Sunday. Ferrero later shared a photo of himself sitting between Federer and Alcaraz on one of the indoor practice courts at the tournament site. All three were dressed in tennis kits with Federer donning a bandana - something he only wears while playing - hinting that the 20-time Grand Slam champion joined the Alcaraz team for a practice session. It’s not the first time Ferrero has arranged a hit between Alcaraz and Federer. The Swiss star agreed to practice with a then-16-year-old Alcaraz at Wimbledon in 2019 because he was being coached by Ferrero, one of his old foes. The eight-time Wimbledon champion has since confessed that he was offered the chance to hit with Alcaraz again but turned it down and said he’d rather spar with Ferrero. But he seems to have made up for it in Shanghai. Ferrero tagged both men and noted that he would “soon” be at the Six Kings Slam - a Saudi Arabia exhibition tournament Alcaraz is competing in this week. The 21-year-old will be joined by Djokovic, Sinner, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune. With plenty of champions in the field, it’s no surprise Alcaraz would have wanted to test himself against another legend of the game in Federer.