Carlos Alcaraz just dropped one of the biggest bombshells in tennis. On Wednesday, the 22-year-old announced he’s splitting from his longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero after more than seven years together.
Nobody saw this coming.
The timing makes it even more shocking. Ferrero and Alcaraz’s other coach, Samuel Lopez, literally won the 2025 ATP Coach of the Year award less than a week ago. Now Lopez will be flying solo as Alcaraz’s only coach.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | 22 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
A Partnership That Started When He Was Just a Kid
Think about this for a second. Ferrero has been with Alcaraz since he was basically a teenager just starting out on the professional circuit.
Every single major achievement in Alcaraz’s career happened with Ferrero by his side.
50 weeks as world No. 1. Six Grand Slam titles. 24 total trophies including eight Masters 1000 titles. All of it came under Ferrero’s guidance.
That’s pretty incredible when you think about it. Most players go through multiple coaches during their careers, but Alcaraz stuck with the same guy from the beginning all the way to the top.
The Emotional Goodbye
Alcaraz’s announcement on social media was really tough to read. You could feel how hard this decision was for him.
"It’s very difficult for me to write this post… After more than seven years together, Juanki and I have decided to bring our time together as coach and player to an end. Thank you for turning childhood dreams into reality."
He went on to explain just how much their partnership meant to him:
"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. I’ve enjoyed every single step with you immensely."
What really stands out is how Alcaraz framed the split. He said if their paths had to separate, it should be "from the top" – from the place they always worked to reach together.
"So many memories come to mind that choosing just one wouldn’t be fair. You helped me grow as an athlete, but above all as a person."
Ferrero’s Response Raises Questions
Ferrero also posted his own goodbye message, and honestly, it left fans scratching their heads a bit.
The 45-year-old coach thanked Alcaraz for everything, but then he said something that got people talking: "I wish I could have continued."
That phrase is making fans wonder what really happened here. Did Alcaraz make the call to end things? Or are there personal circumstances preventing Ferrero from staying on?
"Today is a difficult day. One of those when it’s hard to find the right words. Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when there are so many shared experiences behind it."
Ferrero’s been around less in recent years, missing some tournaments. That’s actually part of why Lopez joined the team in the first place.
"Thank you, Carlos, for the trust, the effort, and for making your way of competing make me feel so special. I wish you all the best, both professionally and personally."
Then came that line again: "I wish I could have continued."
What This Means Going Forward
It’s wild to think that one of tennis’s most successful coach-player partnerships is coming to an end right before the 2026 season starts.
Alcaraz is entering what should be the prime years of his career. He’s already won six majors and spent nearly a full year at No. 1. The question now is whether he can maintain that level with just Lopez in his corner.
The timing suggests this wasn’t a performance-based decision. You don’t fire a coach who just won Coach of the Year unless there’s something else going on.
Whatever the real reason, it’s clear this was an emotional decision for both guys. Sometimes even the best partnerships run their course, even when they’re still successful.
Alcaraz seems determined to keep building on what he and Ferrero accomplished together. As he put it: "I’m left with the peace of mind of knowing we gave everything we had, that we held nothing back from one another."
The tennis world will be watching closely to see how this change affects one of the game’s biggest stars as he heads into 2026.
