“It’s not you; it’s me… except it’s actually 100% you.” When Juan Carlos Ferrero broke the news about his split with his star pupil, Carlos Alcaraz, there were all the markings of a messy breakup. Abrupt timing, a vague explanation, and the inexplicable sense that feelings weren’t mutual.
With the announcement coming in mid-December–only a couple of weeks before the start of the season and Carlos’s second attempt at a Career Grand Slam in Melbourne—the timing of this breakup couldn’t be any more perplexing. After all, Carlos had just wrapped up the most successful season of his career. In 2025, he claimed two Grand Slam singles titles, the year-end world No. 1 ranking, a 71-9 match win-loss record, and a dominant head-to-head over his primary rival, Jannik Sinner. So, if it ain’t broke, then why fix it?
No Ordinary Partnership
While I would ordinarily say that coaching changes are to be expected as a player matures, the relationship between Ferrero and Alcaraz was anything but ordinary. Ferrero had been the constant through Carlos’s evolution from prodigy to professional. More importantly, their partnership seemed ever-fruitful, positioning Carlos for both his short- and long-term goals—a Career Grand Slam and a trajectory that could very well place him in the GOAT conversation one day.
From Local Talent to Grand Slam Champion
The pair began working together in 2018, when Caros was only 15. Ferrero immediately noticed Carlos’s talent while observing him play in a local tournament near his academy in Villena. In an interview with MARCA, Spain’s leading sports newspaper, Ferrero explains that they were both ‘lucky’ to find one another. In his words, “[Carlos] found someone to guide him in his development… And I’ve been lucky to find someone who was able to learn at such a pace.” While Carlos already possessed “impressive technical, physical, and mental abilities,” together they were able to realize his potential and develop him into a Grand Slam champion. Only four years later, in 2022, Carlos would win his first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open at the age of 19.
Navigating Fame
Carlos’s next challenge was adjusting to the rigor of fame and life on tour. After winning the US Open, Carlos became an immediate sensation and with it came additional commitments, distractions, and pressure—all of which can easily derail a young career. As Ferrero put it: “Once he became so famous and such a favorite in every tournament, we wanted to help him handle all that pressure. The pressure is there and people always expect him to win.” Thankfully, Ferrero’s own experience as a Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 proved invaluable during this phase. In the next three seasons, Carlos won five more Grand Slam singles titles, cementing his legacy as a future-Hall of Famer.
Continued Evolution
Even after Carlos surpassed his mentor in achievements, Ferrero remained well-equipped to help springboard his pupil toward the next lofty goals. With the Australian Open being the only hole in Carlos’s Grand Slam resume, Ferrero noted: “Australia is the tournament we’ve been chasing for the last two years.” To improve Carlos’s status as a threat on hard courts, the pair retooled his serve in 2025, resulting in nearly two hundred more aces compared to 2024 (463 aces in 2025 vs 265 aces in 2024). Now able to play as a bonafide ‘serve-bot,’ this weapon propelled him to the US Open title in dominant fashion.
More Than Just a Coach
All things considered, Ferrero seemed to play more than the part of coach—he was also a paternal figure. Where Carlos naturally ebbed into the emotional, Ferrero provided the voice of discipline, focus, and motivation when needed. As Ferrero explains, “When you achieve so much, your motivation has to remain intact, and that was one of the things we tried to keep a close eye on.” When asked, “Would you say he has been more than just a tennis coach?” he humbly replied: “I’ll leave that to him.”
While gaining autonomy is an important step in anyone’s maturity, it still felt like there was more juice to squeeze out of the Alcaraz-Ferrero partnership.
A Breakup Over Paperwork
That’s why it’s especially disappointing to discover that the breakup occurred over contractual disagreements. Shortly after the split became public, rumors circulated that the relationship collapsed due to a 48-hour ultimatum given to Ferrero by Carlos’s management regarding the terms related to a new contract. Ferrero confirmed this in an interview with MARCA:
“It’s true that when a year ends, certain things need to be reviewed regarding contracts. […] As with all contracts, one side pulls in one direction and the other in another. Carlos’s camp thinks about what’s best for him, and mine thinks about what’s best for me. There were certain issues on which both parties disagreed. Perhaps they could have been resolved if we had sat down to talk, but in the end, we didn’t, and we decided not to continue.”
Together they had one of the most successful partnerships in tennis history, and they didn’t even sit down to talk? The barriers in communication and the 48-hour turnaround time makes me think that this decision wasn’t driven by Carlos’s interests, but that of his management—which worries me. We’ve seen this story countless times before, a promising career derailed by mismanagement and short-sighted business decisions. Hopefully, it turns out differently for Carlos.
The Road Ahead
Carlos possesses enough natural talent that we probably won’t see the immediate impact of this drastic change—at least not until he faces elite competition on hard courts. Sinner, Djokovic, Medvedev: these are the matches where tactical adjustments and emotional steadiness matter most. These are the moments where Ferrero’s absence will be felt.
If Carlos navigates this transition successfully, the decision could prove transformative in the long run. But my prediction? This year, we’ll see his challengers get the best of him in big matches more often than usual. 2025 might be the year Sinner seizes control of their rivalry.