Carlos Alcaraz’s decision to part ways with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has sent a ripple of disbelief through the tennis world- not because of poor results, but precisely because of the timing. The split comes at the end of the most successful season of Alcaraz’s career and closes a seven-year partnership that shaped one of the sport’s brightest modern champions.
A Champion Partnership Ends at the Peak
Carlos Alcaraz, 22, announced on Wednesday that he and Ferrero had “decided to part ways” ahead of the 2026 season. No official reason was given, but the tone of the farewell messages- particularly Ferrero’s admission that he “wished [they] could have continued”- has fuelled speculation that the separation may not have been entirely mutual.
Ferrero began working with Alcaraz when the Spaniard was just 15, overseeing his development from prodigious junior talent into world No. 1 and six-time Grand Slam champion. Under Ferrero’s guidance, Alcaraz claimed two French Open titles, two Wimbledon crowns and two US Opens, along with 24 tour-level trophies and eight Masters 1000 titles. In 2022, he became the youngest man in history to reach the top of the ATP rankings.
Carlos Alcaraz’ Incredible 2025 Season
Alcaraz’s 2025 season was his finest: eight titles, two Grand Slams and a commanding finish as year-end world No. 1. Ferrero himself praised the growing maturity and mental sharpness that underpinned Alcaraz’s dominant US Open run, which the player described as the best tennis of his career.
That context makes the split all the more striking. Ferrero was recently named ATP Coach of the Year, and there had been no public indication that the partnership was nearing its end. Instead, the decision appears to reflect a broader evolution- a champion seeking greater autonomy after reaching the summit.
Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz: List Of Titles Won In 2025
Samuel López, who joined the coaching team in 2024 and has already led Alcaraz at tournaments in Ferrero’s absence, is expected to remain. Alcaraz has not yet announced whether he will appoint a new head coach, but his immediate focus will be the Australian Open, where he is aiming to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.
For Ferrero, the separation marks the end of a defining chapter. “I wish I could have continued,” he wrote, a simple line that revealed the emotional weight of the goodbye. For Alcaraz, it is the beginning of a new phase- one defined not by potential, but by responsibility and self-direction.
