Carlos Alcaraz’s Coaching Changes
A year ago, Carlos Alcaraz’s team considered replacing coach Juan Carlos Ferrero with a notable successor. However, Alcaraz himself opposed the move, as reported by Spanish journalist Jose Moron.
After a successful seven-year collaboration, which included six Grand Slam titles, eight ATP Masters 1000 titles, and two year-end No. 1 rankings, Alcaraz announced his split from Ferrero at the end of the 2025 season.
While the announcement surprised many in the tennis world, there were indications of rising tension between Alcaraz’s camp and Ferrero. This friction reportedly reached a breaking point in December when Ferrero declined a proposed contract renewal.
In an interview with Marca, Ferrero acknowledged that both sides had differing views on their partnership. He highlighted the common contract dilemma where each party seeks what benefits them the most, indicating unresolved disagreements.
Moron revealed that the desire to part ways was not sudden; Alcaraz’s team had contemplated letting go of Ferrero last year due to the player experiencing “mental burnout.” After a strong 2024 season, including wins at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Alcaraz struggled notably after the Olympic Games, leading to overwhelming pressure during critical matches.
Despite an early exit at the US Open and a challenging ATP Finals, Alcaraz did manage to secure victory at the China Open following his Wimbledon title defense. Additionally, he had a rocky start to 2025, losing in the Australian Open quarter-finals but eventually finding his form by winning the Rotterdam Open.
Moron noted that Alcaraz’s camp had plans to make significant changes last year, even considering former world No. 1 Andy Murray as a replacement coach, but ultimately delayed the decision at Alcaraz’s request. This confusion led to tensions, as their visions for Alcaraz’s career were increasingly misaligned, culminating in the recent separation.
