Carlos Alcaraz ended his partnership with coach Ferrero 'too soon' says former player

Thursday, 18 December 2025 at 12:45

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byErik Virostko

Carlos Alcaraz might regret stopping working with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero so early in his tennis career, at least that's what some former players think.

Alcaraz made a surprising decision to stop working with coach Ferrero, which stunned the whole tennis world. In his statement, the 22-year-old mostly thanked his coach for everything he's done for him, reflecting on their incredible success. However, Alcaraz has yet to address the reason behind the split.

In his own statement, Ferrero mentioned that he would have liked to continue, and rumors in the Spanish media suggest that the two parted ways after failing to agree on something during the contract negotiations for the 2026 season, which took place this week.

Journalist Sebastián Fest shared his insights into the split in an article for CLAY, noting that the differences between Alcaraz's father and Ferrero were among the main reasons for the split.

The real reason likely won't be known until Alcaraz speaks about it ahead of the 2026 Australian Open, and maybe not even after that. However, the split has obviously generated many reactions from former players, coaches, and essentially everyone interested in the sport of tennis.

Most have been stunned by the split, as no one could see it coming. Former ATP world No. 12, Feliciano Lopez, who knows both Alcaraz and Ferrero well, spoke about their split during an appearance on the COPE radio program "El Partidazo."

According to Lopez, from Alcaraz's side, the split came too early in his career, and the Spanish player might struggle to find someone who can fully replace Ferrero.

"It will be difficult for Carlos to find someone who adapts so well to his environment and lifestyle, and who brings everything that Juan Carlos offered him. It's too soon for Alcaraz to stop working with someone like him."

Alcaraz-Ferrero split 'not good for either of them,' says former world No. 2

Former ATP world No. 2 Alex Corretja also spoke about the split. The former Spanish player discussed it for TNT Sports, saying that in his view, the split isn't good for either of the two.

"My first impression, I was very sad. I didn’t expect it at all. Of course, throughout the time, you spend days and weeks and years with the same person and the same voice. Maybe there is someone there sometimes that you don’t agree with exactly in the same situations. But I personally felt they had lots of things to do together. I feel like they had been achieving amazing goals, but, of course, they still had so many to achieve."

"I am very sad. I think it’s very sad for them both. It’s sad for tennis in general. The combo of Alcaraz-Ferraro, Ferrero-Alcaraz, it was great, it was nice for everyone. They are both polite, they are both nice guys. It was a nice combination. I think it’s not good for either of them."

Corretja also thinks that Alcaraz will miss Ferrero in his team for some time. The team will need to adjust to the new normal, and even though Samuel Lopez will stay on the team as a coach, the world No. 1 might need to look for someone new to join the team as the head coach.

"I think Carlitos will need to adjust to that. He’s been with Juan for the last seven years, since he was getting mature in his tennis career. He’s going to miss him badly, and I think it might make him grow quite a lot in the next weeks and months."

"I think Carlos has got a great team, a strong team, very solid. I think definitely Ferrero was on the top of that, and he was the leader. He was the captain of the team. Now they’re going to have Samuel doing a little bit of that job, with other members of the team. I think in the near future, they might add someone else."

"Possibly they will try to see how it goes with Samuel, only with him, but maybe after Australia we will see. Always the results bring you more expectations, or it depends on what you have. Maybe you stay the same."

"But I won’t be surprised if they include an ex-player, a former player who understands the game and the situations. The fact that he’s been there, and a little bit like what Juan Carlos was doing. But I think it will be good for him also to add someone with different ideas, different perspectives to the team. I’m not saying Sam is not capable, but I think it’s also good to bring someone else. Not now, maybe in the next couple of weeks, maybe in the near future."