Carlos Alcaraz has finally broken his silence on his surprising split with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. He also offered insight into where their relationship stands today.
Alcaraz and Ferrero officially parted ways in mid-December 2025, bringing an end to a partnership that began in 2018 when the youngster was just 15. Over seven years, Ferrero helped guide him to multiple Grand Slam titles, several Masters 1000 trophies, and the world No. 1 ranking, making it one of the most successful coach–player partnerships of the modern era.
The announcement came out of nowhere and left much of the tennis world stunned, with questions quickly following. Carlos Alcaraz addressed the situation in his pre-tournament press conference at the Australian Open. He revealed that the decision was mutual and said he is extremely grateful to Ferrero for playing such a huge role in shaping him into the player he is today.
“It is something we just decided,” Alcaraz said. “I think there is a time [in life] that has to be the end. We decided like this. I gotta say that I am really grateful for this seven years I have been with Juan Carlos. I learned a lot, and thanks to him, I am the player that I am right now.”
The six-time Grand Slam champion made it clear that despite their separation, he still shares a good relationship with his ex-coach:
“We closed this chapter in mutual. We both are still friends. Good relationship, but we just decided like this.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s Replacement For Juan Carlos Ferrero At Australian Open 2026
Carlos Alcaraz will compete at the 2026 Australian Open without Juan Carlos Ferrero by his side, but he won’t be alone. He will be guided by Samuel Lopez in his pursuit of glory at the only Grand Slam title he has yet to win.
Lopez joined Alcaraz’s team in December 2024, initially serving as a second coach alongside Ferrero before taking over as the head coach. He was also the sole coach guiding Alcaraz to a title win in Rotterdam last year, giving him plenty of confidence ahead of the Melbourne Major.
Alcaraz is set to begin his Australian Open campaign against local hero Alex Walton on Sunday, January 18. As the second seed, he has a relatively manageable draw early on, appearing well-positioned until the semifinals, where potential threats like Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev could emerge, followed by the likes of Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Ben Shelton, and others in the final.
