Pato Álvarez, Colombian coach, passed away at the age of 87. Considered the legend that changed Spanish tennis, one of the most influential coaches in this discipline.
William Alvarez, also known as “El Pantera” leaves a great legacy in the history of tennis, as his philosophy was different from others. He managed to create his own training system that took him to the top as a coach, and that, to this day, former tennis player and current coach Emilio Sanchez is using his philosophy in an updated way as a reference in his trainings. This system made Pato the technical director of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation, and the most innovative coach of the 80s and 90s. When players like Sergio, Emilio and others came to his group of young players and saw his ability to convince, they decided to hire him privately and walked together until they finished their careers.
Other Spanish tennis players such as Julian Alonso, Joan Albert Viloca, Joan Balsells, Javier Sanchez Vicario, Jordi Burillo, Tomas Carbonell, Pato Clavet, Jose Higueras, Javier Soler, Angel Gimenez were part of his coaching career. Who consider that, without any doubt, his perseverance, his dedication, his personality, his illusion and confidence are a reference and an example to follow for everyone. He was the first to use the drills to teach, a system that today is used all over the world. Those drills consisted of crumbled moves and repeated an infinite number of times until the player internalized them. In addition, he created the culture of the professional, arriving first at the club and leaving last, making his players some of the most professional in the world.
Likewise, his legacy also reached international players through the Academy. Giller Muller, Murray and Dimitrov were already training at the facility, and he collaborated with them. He got them to go through his revolutionary training system, who today, are still in the TOP ranking.
We want to say goodbye to the most important coach in the history of Spanish tennis, the one who achieved success and trained world-renowned professional athletes.
“In respect of his legacy that will last forever in the history of sport, his values and teachings will live among us, Coach Pato”.
Robbie Fields says:
I wrote the following homenaje on 22 January.
RIP, maestro.
A fixture on the men’s tour for decades, I first met the great tennis coach Pato Alvarez in 1990 at Indian Wells, the same year I became a fanatical fan of his namesake, Pato Clavet who he was coaching at the time.
The Americans never “got” him. He was a no name former Colombian player who went to fat. He was almost 60 years old even then. 5 years ago, at the age of 82, I bumped into him coaching
another young Spanish prospect at a Futures tournament in Spain. I went there for lunch and indeed I had a memorable one with Pato. I could not help teasing him about Carlos Cuadrado whom he had previously declared to me the next great Spanish clay courter. Even making it to 87, his death comes as a shock.
DEP.
Emilio,
It was in 1991 that Pato Clavet brought me to your table at the Indian Wells lunch buffet. I already looked upon you as a Maestro. 25 years later, as I mentioned above, it was me inviting myself to Pato Alvarez’s table in Reus!
Small Simon DPM says:
I had known Pato for many years
He was a hard working honest Friendly and funny man.
He will be missed
God rest his soul,
Dr Simon Small
Mike Beard says:
I came to the academy with Jodie who at that time was 9. It is an incredible place for young people to learn the sport. Jodie really enjoyed her time there and has very fond memories. However the one person Jodie still talks about today is Pato he put some serious time to Jodie and she was really motivated by what he taught her and the belief he gave her. I will see Jodie tomorow and i know she will be very sadden by his passing. Please pass our condolences to his family, Pato will be sorely missed.
Tiago Bastos says:
I had the pleasure to learn his way of coaching through Sanchez-Casal academy, during the time I worked there. I got to meet him, listening to him commentating a Federer’s match is something which I recall frequently! He probably was not aware how he impacted my tennis life. To this day I coach tennis, I hope he rests in peace. 🙌🏼