After over seven years of association, Carlos Alcaraz has parted ways with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. The star from Murcia was learning under Ferrero since the age of 15, and the duo delivered six Grand Slams and 24 ATP Tour singles titles.
Alcaraz first shared the news about the breakup last week, and Ferrero followed it up, saying that he would have liked to remain as coach. This week, Ferrero interviewed with Marca, where he talked in detail about his split with the Spaniard.
Both Alcaraz and Ferrero were emotionally invested in this relationship. The coach gave his account of how he is dealing with the aftermath of going their separate ways.
“I think maybe we both need some time to fully process this breakup,” Ferrero said. “It’s not so easy. Right now, I’m hurting. These kinds of relationships are difficult to end overnight. And there has to be a grieving period. And, above all, I suppose it will also hurt when I see him play in tournaments. A lot of shared experiences come into play there. I think it’s going to take some time.”
Contrary to what many outlets have reported, money was not the reason why the two went their separate ways. Juan Carlos Ferrero admitted that “the financial issue wasn’t one of the problems.”
However, during the same interview with Marca, Ferrero admitted that there were disagreements in the contract that played a part in the split.
Ferrero was a coach, mentor and fatherly figure to Alcaraz. It’s not easy to just write off the relationship on paper. However, both are professional and respect each other’s choices.
Juan Carlos Ferrero Gives Verdict On Samuel Lopez’s Capability To Become Carlos Alcaraz’s First Coach
Juan Carlos Ferrero was joined by Samuel Lopez in late 2024 in Carlos Alcaraz’s coaching team. The 2025 year was massive for the Spaniard as he won two Grand Slams and multiple ATP Tour titles. The cherry on the top was reclaiming the No. 1 ranking from Jannik Sinner and staying there till the end of the season.
During his interview with Marca, Ferrero shared his verdict if Lopez, who has been elevated to the position of main coach, has what it takes to manage a player of Alcaraz’s calibre.
“He has experience and has managed certain types of players, which has toughened him up considerably,” Ferrero said. “The year he’s been with us has been the best preparation he could have had for this situation. He needs to prepare because I’ve always affectionately called Carlos ‘such a heavy, but good, freight train.’ He needs to be well-prepared because the responsibility is significant. And knowing how to manage a big team is important too. He has to adapt gradually. But he knows the team firsthand, and that makes things easier.”
The 2026 season will be the first year of Alcaraz as a professional, where he’ll be without Ferrero to guide him. It’s natural that every one of his accomplishments and shortcomings will be critically analyzed and judged whether the World No. 1 made the right decision to part ways with Ferrero.
