World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz announced on Wednesday that he has parted ways with his longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, ending a seven-year partnership that produced six Grand Slam titles. The 22-year-old confirmed the split via social media just weeks before the start of the 2026 season, where he is aiming to complete a Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open.
The decision comes as a surprise to the tennis world, particularly because the duo recently celebrated finishing the year at the top of the rankings, and Ferrero was named the ATP's 2025 Coach of the Year.
Ferrero began coaching Alcaraz at his academy when the player was 15, guiding him from the junior circuit to the summit of men's tennis. Under Ferrero's mentorship, Alcaraz won 24 tour-level titles, including eight ATP Masters 1000 crowns and major victories at the US Open (2022, 2025), Wimbledon (2023, 2024), and the French Open (2024, 2025).
The former World No. 1 was instrumental in converting Alcaraz from a clay-court prospect into an all-surface dominant force, helping him become the youngest year-end No. 1 in history in 2022.
In his statement, Alcaraz focused on the success they achieved together rather than specific reasons for the breakup. "Thank you for turning childhood dreams into realities. We started this journey when I was barely a kid, and throughout all this time you’ve accompanied me on an incredible journey, on and off the court,"
Alcaraz wrote. He noted that ending the partnership while at the peak of the sport felt appropriate, adding, "We’ve managed to reach the top, and I feel that if our sports paths had to part ways, it had to be from up there."
However, Ferrero’s response suggested the split was not initiated by him. In a separate post, the 45-year-old wrote, "I wish I could have continued," while expressing pride in their shared accomplishments. "I am convinced that good memories and good people always find a way to cross paths again," Ferrero added.
While Alcaraz has not explicitly named a replacement, Samuel Lopez, who joined the team in 2024 and has previously stepped in during Ferrero's absences, is expected to remain in the coaching setup.
The separation marks a monumental shift for Alcaraz, who often viewed Ferrero as a father figure on tour. The move mirrors other high-profile coaching changes in tennis, such as Novak Djokovic’s split with Goran Ivanisevic, where players seek new voices despite ongoing success. "Now times of change are coming for both of us, new adventures and new projects," Alcaraz stated. "But I’m certain we’ll face them the right way, giving our best, as we’ve always done."