Alcaraz hears this word most from Ferrero...

Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour

Countless intricacies go into what makes a top player successful. There are technical, mental and physical aspects among others that help an ATP Tour star perfect his craft. But for Carlos Alcaraz, sometimes a simple word from coach Juan Carlos Ferrero can change the tide of a high-stakes match.

“It depends on how he’s watching me. If I’m struggling a lot, if I’m in problems or not, he tells me depending on the moments,” Alcaraz told reporters Tuesday in Miami. “But I can tell you one of the things he tells me most is, ‘Smile.’”

This was evident in the BNP Paribas Open semi-finals, in which Alcaraz rallied from 1-6 to end rival Jannik Sinner’s 19-match winning streak. A magnetic smile and superb shotmaking were easy to spot from Alcaraz, who went on to defeat Daniil Medvedev the next day to claim the Indian Wells title.

The Spaniard, who is the top seed at the Miami Open presented by Itau, has been coached by the former No. 1 Ferrero since age 14. They have forged a strong bond from their early days in junior tournaments to now the biggest stages of the sport. Ferrero has helped Alcaraz win 13 tour-level titles, including a pair of majors.

“He means a lot to me,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously it’s a great support when I have him in the box. His support is really special to me. It’s been a long path together, I think six years now. It’s been a long journey together. We started when I was playing in juniors, he did Grade 4 [tournaments] travelling with me.

“We’ve done great work together. I spend a lot of time with him at tournaments and [outside] the tournaments as well. We have a really good relationship in the professional part, but the personal part as well. I’ve learned a lot from him.”

The World No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings arrives in Miami boasting a 12-3 season record. Alcaraz is just the second player to win five ATP Masters 1000 titles before turning 21, with countryman Rafael Nadal the other.

Alcaraz, who won his first Masters 1000 title in Miami two years ago, will next aim to become the eighth man to win the ‘Sunshine Double’ and the first since Roger Federer in 2017.

“I’m feeling great, with a lot of confidence right now,” Alcaraz said. “I think I'm playing great tennis. I’m really happy to be here in Miami again, a really special place for me, where I’ve shown great tennis the past years. I’m feeling great physically and mentally and I’m ready for this tournament.”

A semi-finalist last year in south Florida, Alcaraz will open against Australian Aleksandar Vukic or fellow Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.