Carlos Alcaraz's Coach Ferrero To Be Absent from 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters
News
Carlos Alcaraz's attempts to be more successful at the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters compared to previous iterations will be done without his long-time coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, who is set to miss the tournament.
Many consider clay to be Alcaraz's best surface when he is at his best. The former world No. 1 grew up on the dirt and has made opponents look distinctly mediocre when everything clicks, but he can also win without playing his best on clay.
That was shown for long spells at the 2024 French Open. Despite Alcaraz not playing the blistering tennis he is known for, the 21-year-old still managed to grind out seven victories to triumph at Roland Garros.
However, Alcaraz seems to be cursed regarding the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte-Carlo. The Spaniard failed to win a match in 2022 and was injured in 2023 and 2024, meaning he has yet to win a match at the event.
Ferrero's absence is an obstacle he will need to handle at this year's iteration, which starts on April 6th. MARCA reported that the former French Open winner does not plan on joining Alcaraz until the following week at the 2025 Barcelona Open.
Instead, Samuel Lopez will be Alcaraz's main coach at the Monte-Carlo Masters. He worked with Pablo Carreno Busta, who recently shoved an umpire during a match, for nine years before leaving to join Alcaraz's team.
While Alcaraz would undoubtedly prefer to have Ferrero and Lopez with him, Ferrero's absence is not a new phenomenon. Lopez also stepped in as the main coach for the 2025 Rotterdam Open, which the four-time Grand Slam champion won, and the 2025 Qatar Open.
Ferrero's consistent absences might raise some questions about whether he is gradually distancing himself from Alcaraz. The 2003 US Open runner-up has spoken in the past about how he would eventually move on and let his protege develop further with someone else.
Alcaraz did not have Ferrero with him at the 2024 Australian Open because of his coach's knee surgery, but there is no reason to believe that issue from over a year ago is linked to the absences so far this year.
Whatever the reasons Ferrero is not present as often, it should not be a significant surprise. Lopez's hiring during the off-season always raised the possibility of him being Alcaraz's leading coach for some tournaments.
Alcaraz will hope to start his clay court swing strongly in Monte-Carlo. That might help him get over being stunned by David Goffin in the round-of-64 at the 2025 Miami Open, probably the biggest upset of the season so far.
That match included Alcaraz becoming animated at the umpire about him starting the shot clock too quickly on a humid night in Miami. He did not receive a time violation from the umpire, but still felt that not enough consideration was given.
Conditions in Monte-Carlo in April are usually very comfortable for the players to perform in. Consistently staying within the 25-second time limit should not be hard, especially since players can ask ball kids to get their towels for them.
