Carlos Alcaraz has parted ways with his long-time coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, leaving fans and the tennis community asking one big question: why?
A Partnership Built on Success
Alcaraz worked with Ferrero for essentially his entire tennis career. The Spanish coach guided him to all six of his Grand Slam trophies, and Alcaraz himself described Ferrero as his “second father.”
However, professional sports relationships can be complicated. In recent years, Ferrero wasn’t able to travel with Alcaraz as much as before, which led to Samuel Lopez joining the team. The two coaches would split tournaments to ensure Alcaraz always had guidance, sometimes even appearing in the box together.
Now, following the split, Lopez will be the sole coach guiding the ATP world No. 1.
Ferrero Speaks Out
The news came as a surprise to many in the tennis world. Multiple Spanish outlets, however, reported a reason behind the split.
In a statement, Ferrero said:
“We have been an incredible team despite the difficulties, and I am sure you will continue to achieve great success. I wish I could have continued. I am convinced that good memories and good people always find a way to cross paths again.”
This suggests that the split wasn’t initiated by Ferrero himself.
Contract Negotiations as the Turning Point
Spanish journalist Javier de Diego reported on RNE Deportes that the split likely resulted from a disagreement during contract negotiations just two days prior:
“It hasn’t been a heated argument… but it has been sudden. The breakup happened 2 days ago during the negotiation of Ferrero’s contract for next year.”
Differences Between Alcaraz and Ferrero
Although Alcaraz and Ferrero had a highly successful partnership, some of their differences were known publicly. Netflix’s documentary, “Carlos Alcaraz: My Way,” explored these differences:
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Alcaraz wanted more freedom to focus on his personal life and enjoy time off from tennis.
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Ferrero preferred a more structured and focused approach to maximize Alcaraz’s potential.
Kiko Navarro, Alcaraz’s first coach, told RNE Deportes that it likely wasn’t Alcaraz himself who decided to part ways, but someone from his broader team.
What’s Next for Alcaraz?
For now, it’s clear that Alcaraz will not continue working with Ferrero at the start of the 2026 season. One of the first questions he is likely to face when he arrives in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open will be about this sudden split.
