The tennis world was rocked Wednesday as Carlos Alcaraz, the men's world No. 1, announced his split with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero after a remarkably successful seven-year partnership. The split comes as a surprise, considering Alcaraz's dominant season, during which he secured the French Open and US Open titles, amassing a tour-leading 71 match wins and eight titles overall.

Alcaraz, 22, began working with Ferrero when he was just a teenager, training at Ferrero's academy. Under Ferrero's guidance, Alcaraz won 24 titles, including six Grand Slams, becoming the youngest world No. 1 in ATP history in 2022. Their bond appeared strong, with Alcaraz often referring to Ferrero as a "second father". The pair were even named ATP Coach of the Year just days before the announcement.

In a statement released on social media, Alcaraz expressed gratitude to Ferrero, saying, "Thank you for turning my childhood dreams into reality". Ferrero responded with his own statement, hinting that the decision was not mutual, writing, "I wish I could have continued". He expressed pride in their journey together but also nostalgia.

The timing of the split has raised eyebrows, given Alcaraz's recent success. Some speculate that the decision stems from disagreements during contract negotiations. Javier de Diego, a journalist, suggested that the split arose amidst negotiations for Ferrero's new contract, potentially involving financial or organizational clauses related to Alcaraz's extensive team. Kiko Navarro, Alcaraz's first coach, believes that individuals surrounding Alcaraz may have influenced the decision, as Alcaraz is known to be protective of his coaches.

Throughout their partnership, Ferrero's influence extended beyond technical coaching. He helped Alcaraz manage his emotions on court, guiding him to "simmer down and play simpler tennis in critical moments". Ferrero also played a key role in strategizing against rivals like Jannik Sinner, tailoring training to address specific weaknesses. In 2025, Ferrero focused on improving Alcaraz's serve, which proved instrumental in his US Open victory.

The Alcaraz camp has announced that Samuel Lopez, who joined the team in 2024, will take over as head coach. While the future of Alcaraz's coaching situation remains uncertain, the tennis world will be watching to see if this change impacts his performance as he continues his quest to evolve and dominate the sport.