What do Alcaraz, Mayar Sheriff, Ferrero, Sharapova, Carreño, and Ferrer have in common?
We met with Antonio Martínez Cascales to celebrate his 50 years dedicated to tennis with body and soul.
Antonio Martínez Cascales has been - and still is - one of the most influential figures in contemporary Spanish tennis, a trainer whose impact goes far beyond results and who has been key in the development of several generations of players. Without him, current tennis in our country would not be the same. Soon, he will celebrate 50 years dedicated exclusively to tennis. A whole life devoted body and soul to what he still considers his great passion.
Toni, as his closest friends call him, began his journey in tennis back in the late 60s. His uncles built a homemade tennis court on a farm owned by his father. They bought a couple of rackets and started playing, driven by the success of Manolo Santana, who served as an example for many young people at the time.
Cascales was only 8 years old when his love for tennis was born, playing on his father's farm with his uncles. Gradually, he played in various places, driven by the first tennis courts that were created in Villena. In the summer he turned 18, some parents asked Toni if he could train their children, seeing that he was good at tennis. He was a pioneer, back when there were no tennis schools in Villena.
In 1980, at 20 years old, Cascales created a small school at the club where he trained, focused on the education of young talents, and that is where his figure as a coach began to grow within the Valencian Community. His big break came in 1990 when he decided to create his own academy in Villena, the Equelite, now considered one of the best in the world.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, the person who marks a before and after
The turning point in the professional career of Toni and his academy came when he met a 10-year-old boy named Juan Carlos Ferrero. They didn't know it yet, but both would get to know the person who would change their lives both personally and professionally.
"I remember perfectly the day I met him," Cascales tells us. "It was a September night in 1990. I had heard of him already, but I hadn't seen him play yet. His father brought him to the school because the Federation told him that this academy was the best in the area. As soon as I saw him play, I detected he had something different. He played very well," he adds.
If there's something that characterizes Toni and his academy, it is the close and friendly treatment. There, away from the city noise, everything becomes more intimate. Those who enjoy the tranquility feel at home. Juan Carlos, who is a very calm person, quickly enjoyed the outings, camping trips, and the good vibes that were breathed at the academy, which made him stay there and not go to Barcelona, like the majority of young boys who were shining at the time.
In those early years, Toni tried to replicate the conditions found in other larger academies. Controlling what they ate, ensuring they could sleep well, engaging in activities, encouraging their socialization, all while breathing tennis at every step. With his own car, Toni took the boys, who were only a few at that time, to various training sessions in Marbella or Barcelona to treat injuries with Dr. Cotorro.
Ferrero began to make his mark on the ATP circuit, accompanied by Cascales, and they soon started to shine. "I knew that Juan Carlos was going to turn professional. Top 100 or Top 50, but when he turned 18, that's when I realized he was going to be very good," he confesses. Together, they reached world number 1 and won Roland Garros.
The academy grew in parallel with the success of Juan Carlos and Toni. It evolved from basic facilities with two courts to a high-performance complex through which dozens of professionals have passed because Toni not only trained Ferrero but also instilled a philosophy based on constant work, discipline, and the holistic development of the player.
Many top tennis players have been trained at the academy
People who have become or are now top tennis players grew under the guidance of Antonio Martínez Cascales. For example, someone currently in the spotlight like Samuel López, current coach of Carlos Alcaraz. "I can only say good things about Samu. He's a very good person. Very affectionate, very friendly, very approachable," Toni highlights about Samu.
Someone who also trained at the academy is David Ferrer. The Spaniard was there for a short time, less than a year, but his time there left a mark on him. "David arrived somewhat disillusioned with his work in Barcelona, and here he got back on track with us. He was there for a short time, but he left with a strong work ethic," Toni tells us, mentioning someone else who was very prominent and visited the academy, like Maria Sharapova.
"She would always come to train for the clay court season. She came from 2004 until 2012. In fact, that last year she won Roland Garros and returned to world number 1. The Monday after her victory, we had a party here with 70-80 people, and she was there," Toni recalls, talking about how well Maria integrated into the environment. "She felt very comfortable here, away from the spotlight she had when she went to New York or Los Angeles. She played cards with the kids... she appreciated that a lot. I remember her father standing at the café door at 10 pm telling her to go to bed and stop playing cards with the children," he says with a laugh.
"There's a very curious anecdote with her because she initially struggled on clay, and one day she trained with James Ward, and he beat her 6-1. She left the court crying, and my nephew, who was 7 at the time, approached her and told her not to cry, that she was the best. Maria always brought gifts for my nephew," he recalls nostalgically.
Carlos Alcaraz, the academy's media sensation
All of this happened in a time without social media and the amplification that internet always brings. The tennis rise of Carlos Alcaraz is what really boosts the Equelite academy, which later became the Ferrero Tennis Academy, as this academy is the first in the world to create two ATP world number 1 players.
Carlitos arrived at the age of 15 when Albert Molina brought him to the academy, seeking a step further in his development. There, Ferrero, who was already part of the academy as the head coach, took notice of him and was impressed.
Juan Carlos had been training Alexander Zverev and had several offers from the Top 10 on the table, but that kid from Murcia made him change his plans. He left everything to start with him. He gave up the luxury hotels, private planes, and fancy cars for more humble tennis, traveling by road and competing in smaller tournaments.
Cascales also played a part in Carlitos' development, even accompanying Alcaraz to some tournaments in his early years on the circuit. "Carlos' breakthrough didn't change anything about us in the academy. We remain the same, except now many people come wanting to follow in Alcaraz's footsteps," he reveals.
This way, Toni's journey connects two golden eras of Spanish tennis, the one that trained Ferrero and that of Alcaraz. Therefore, Cascales' legacy goes beyond just titles, extending to the creation of a factory of champions and world number ones, with a special and unique work philosophy, offering a close treatment that is only found in this small corner of Spain compared to other parts of the world.
Players like the ones mentioned, as well as others like Pablo Carreño, Emilio Nava, Mayar Sheriff, or Bu Yunchaokete, have also grown in this academy, which will surely see new talents emerging over the years. "I am proud to see that there are professionals who are what they are thanks to what we have done here. When you are passionate about something, you can achieve anything. That's what I have always tried to convey," Toni reflects.
Looking back, he proudly admires all that has been achieved and what has been contributed to many important people in the tennis world today. "The nicest memory I have in these 50 years is when last December, we paid tribute to Ferrero at the academy, and the 190 people present applauded him for 6-7 minutes non-stop. He had to stop them several times. When I saw the faces of the people, it moved me a lot," concludes Toni.
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