Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero have decided to put an end to a professional relationship that lasted seven years and that was decisive in the meteoric career of the tennis player from Murcia. Together they built a project that took Alcaraz to the top of the world ranking and to conquer the most important titles of the circuit.
However, as time went by, the differences in the way they understood the daily work and the future of the sport ended up separating their paths.
A successful partnership that began to show cracks
Carlos Alcaraz’s time with Juan Carlos Ferrero is full of successes. Under his tutelage, the Murcian won six Grand Slam titles (including Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open) and lifted a total of 24 trophies, consolidating his position as one of the great figures of world tennis. Ferrero was not only his coach, but also a key figure in his sporting and personal development.
However, as Alcaraz grew as a player and as a global figure, different nuances began to emerge in the way he planned training sessions, managed the calendar and approached medium- and long-term challenges. What was initially a shared vision began to morph into increasingly divergent perspectives.
The arrival of Samu Lopez and the beginning of the relay
One of the first signs of change was the incorporation of Samu López to the technical team. His arrival corresponded to the need to add new ideas, oxygenate the daily routine and open the door to another way of working: from Alcaraz’s environment it was understood that, in order to move forward, it was necessary to listen to other voices.
As the months went by, Samu López gained weight in the tennis player’s day-to-day work, until he became a central figure in his preparation. This transition took place progressively, with the intention that the change would not be abrupt and would allow Alcaraz to adapt to a new work dynamic.
The most important disagreement: where and how to train
The point of no return came with a fundamental disagreement: the place of residence and training. Carlos Alcaraz expressed his desire to establish his main base in Murcia, prioritizing the proximity to his family and his most intimate environment. For him, this personal balance was essential to perform at the highest level.
Ferrero, on the other hand, defended a different model, more closely linked to environments of high competition and constant demand, which he considered fundamental for the development of an elite player. Both positions proved difficult to reconcile and, over time, became incompatible within the same project.
Farewells with mutual respect and gratitude
Despite the professional breakup, the tone of the farewell was cordial, without problems or unresolved conflicts: Juan Carlos Ferrero publicly expressed his desire to have continued and made it clear that he has a deep appreciation for the road they have traveled together. Alcaraz, for his part, thanked his coach for his influence, highlighting not only the sporting growth, but also the personal learning and enjoyment of the process.
Last season, the separation had already become visible indirectly: Ferrero was not present at all tournaments, while Samu Lopez assumed more and more responsibilities on the bench. This progressive distancing served to prepare the ground for what is now officially confirmed.
A new stage with Australia on the horizon
With Samu López already consolidated as head coach, Carlos Alcaraz begins a new phase of his career with a very specific goal: to conquer the Australian Open, the only Grand Slam that is missing from his list of titles. The start of the 2026 season will be the first big test for this new technical partnership.
The challenge is not minor: to maintain the level, ambition and consistency that took him to the elite, while adapting to a renewed structure. After closing a historic period together with Ferrero, Alcaraz is now betting on change as a driving force to continue writing his own history in world tennis.
