Carlos Alcaraz will no longer have Juan Carlos Ferrero as coach, as stated by the Murcian in a message on his social networks, to which the Valencian has replied shortly after, warning, however, that he “would have liked to continue”. But who remains on the bench of Alcaraz, in the absence of knowing if there will be any other change in the future, is Samuel Lopez, who will start with him the season and his first major goal of the course: the Australia Open (January 18).
A trainer with history next to the Murcian
Lopez, 55, will maintain continuity in the evolution of the Murcian, as he has been well steeped in his personal and professional career. As coach of the Ferrero academy, he has followed Alcaraz’s steps almost since his landing, even if it was from the corner of his eye at the beginning, as he was in charge of guiding Pablo Carreño’ s career (and before that of Nicolás Almagro and Guillermo García López, among others).
But they have forged a great friendship and little by little the player from Alicante began to play an increasingly important role in Alcaraz’s training. So much so, that he occasionally substituted Ferrero in a tournament when the latter had a personal matter or needed a rest.
Final integration into the technical team
From January 2025, Lopez became a constant part of the team. He was the driving force behind the Murcian’s change of serve, and played second when Ferrero was there, but he also accompanied Alcaraz on his own to take him to the Masters 1000 titles in Miami, Cincinnati, Queen’s, Rotterdam and Tokyo.
These tournaments not only show Lopez’s ability to adapt as a coach to various surfaces and conditions, but also demonstrate the close relationship of trust that had been established between coach and player. This trust has been key to Lopez now being the central figure on the world number one’s staff.
Ferrero’s view on the role of López
The relationship between Ferrero and Lopez was not only professional, but also complementary. A few days ago, Ferrero himself spoke publicly about the role Lopez played in the team, especially after receiving with him the “Coaches of the Year 2025” award last December 11, just a few days before the rupture in the relationship between Ferrero and Alcaraz took place.
Fererro described how the two had different but complementary roles within the technical team. In his words, “I had no doubt that Samuel was going to fit very well into the work philosophy, because we have been together for many years and he knows perfectly what I want for Carlos. From the beginning he has done a great job,” he told the ATP website.
In the same interview, Ferrero specified that in the working group everyone had their own role, with him sometimes assuming the role of “bad cop” and Lopez the role of “good cop”.
Samuel López’s human and technical approach
Ferrero’s description of the roles of both coaches provides a clear picture of how the work with Alcaraz was structured: discipline, demanding, but also close and emotionally supportive. Ferrero explained that his role tended to be stricter, while López had a more approachable and humorous side, although equally committed to performance.
“The goal is for Carlos to work at 100% and bring out the talent he has inside. We do it with work and discipline, but at the same time with joy and happiness. In that aspect, I am perhaps a little more strict and serious in that sense. And Samuel is more open and joking, but at the same time with that seriousness that is needed when it comes to work. “.
These words reflect the balance needed in an elite athlete’s environment: combining technical demands with emotional support to maintain not only competitive performance, but also the player’s motivation and mental stability.
A new chapter before the Australian Open
With Samuel López at the helm of the bench, Alcaraz faces a new stage in his career. The first big test will be the
The transition has been perceived, at least publicly, as an internal decision that seeks to preserve the stability and performance of the technical team at a crucial moment of the season. Lopez’s experience, his detailed knowledge of Alcaraz’s career and his personal closeness may play an important role in facilitating the adaptation and maintaining the Murcian’s high competitive level.
Team changes, same ambitions
Although Ferrero’s departure marks the end of a significant stage in Alcaraz’s career, it also opens a new phase with a well-known and trusted figure at the helm. Lopez arrives not as an unknown, but as someone who has closely followed the player’s evolution, participated in key moments and forged a relationship of friendship and mutual respect.
His appointment as head coach of Alcaraz’s team emphasizes continuity and the importance of maintaining a stable and cohesive environment, especially when it comes to competing at a global level and tackling big goals.
