Miami, March 20 -- Indian Wells champion Carlos Alcaraz opened up on the simple word from coach Juan Carlos Ferrero that changed the tide of a high-stakes match and he thanked his long-time coach for helping him retrieve top form after a brief absence from his box at the start of the season.

Former world number one Ferrero skipped the Australian Open, where Alcaraz lost in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz won his first championship of the season in the California desert on Sunday, praising 44-year-old Ferrero's "special" assistance.

"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 moment. But I can tell you one of the things he tells me most is, 'Smile,'" Alcaraz said as quo...