For seven years, Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero were inseparable - coach and protégé bound by trust, trophies, and a shared vision that turned a teenager from Murcia into a global tennis superstar. So when news broke last week that their partnership had quietly come to an end, the tennis world was left stunned, scrambling for answers that never seemed to arrive. Now, Ferrero has finally spoken.

Sitting down with MARCA one week after the announcement, Alcaraz’s former coach opened up about the moments that led to their unexpected separation, offering clarity - but also a sense of how complex and human the decision truly was. At first glance, everything appeared perfectly normal. Results were strong, the relationship seemed healthy, and there was no visible tension within the camp. But as Ferrero explained, the cracks didn’t appear on the practice court - they emerged behind closed doors.

“It's true that when a year ends, certain things need to be reviewed regarding contracts. And as with any new contract, looking ahead to the following year, there were certain things we disagreed on,” he said. It wasn’t one dramatic argument or a sudden fallout. Instead, it was the slow realization that both sides were pulling in different directions. Carlos Alcaraz’s team gave him a new collaboration proposal with a 48-hour deadline to accept or reject the terms.

Speaking more on that, Ferrero added, “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. That's really what happened. There are points I won't go into detail about, but we disagreed on them, and ultimately, we went our separate ways.”

What makes the split even more surprising is Juan Carlos Ferrero’s insistence that he wanted to carry on, and why wouldn’t he, especially after having such a wonderful season with Carlos Alcaraz in 2025 (8 title triumphs, including two Grand Slams and a year-end world number one ranking). Speaking about their relationship, he added, “The relationship between the two of us has been spectacular all year. We haven't had any arguments at any point.”

However, Ferrero admitted that burnout, too, played its quiet role. He acknowledged that spending nearly every week together - traveling constantly, living out of a suitcase, and being away from home - takes its toll, even on the strongest partnerships. “There's always a bit of burnout when you spend so much time together. I think traveling so much, being away from home for so long, that kind of thing wears you down. The thing is, we supported each other a lot within the team, and one of the reasons for bringing Samuel (Lopez) in was to prevent that relationship from eroding.”

In the end, there was no bitterness, no public fallout, and no single moment that caused the breakup. Just two sides with different perspectives, unable to align them in time. In this journey, the thing that makes Juan Carlos Ferrero most proud of is that he poured his heart and soul into this project with Carlos Alcaraz. He was the one who helped Carlitos become a superstar from a rising star. But is there anything he wished to have achieved while working with the world number one?

Well, to this, Ferrero replied, “Australia is the tournament we've been chasing for the last two years, and it just wasn't to be. Beyond that, what we both need to be at peace with is that we gave absolutely everything we had.”

Carlos Alcaraz will now be arriving at Melbourne Park with a clear target in mind: capturing the only Grand Slam title missing from his already illustrious collection and becoming the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam. But for Ferrero?

Is there a chance of him getting back to Carlos Alcaraz’s team in the near future?

When Juan Carlos Ferrero speaks now, there’s a pause before the words come. Not because he doesn’t know what to say - but because some stories take time to settle in the chest before they can be told. 

One week after the tennis world was jolted with the news of his split with Carlos Alcaraz, Ferrero admitted, “I think maybe we both need some time to fully process this breakup. It's not so easy. Right now, I'm hurting. These kinds of relationships are difficult to end overnight. And there has to be a grieving period. And, above all, I suppose it will also hurt when I see him play in tournaments. A lot of shared experiences come into play there. I think it's going to take some time.”

This wasn’t just a professional separation dressed up in corporate language. It was a breakup in the truest sense - one that demands distance, reflection, and, as Ferrero himself put it, a period of mourning. 

The coach has already revealed that he has started receiving some offers from other players, but at present, he feels it’s “impossible” for him to coach anyone else. Is there a chance of getting into Carlos Alcaraz’s fiercest rivals' team in the near future? 

“It's (working with Jannik Sinner) something I'd have to think about. They're extraordinary players, but as I said before, it's not the time to think about something like that and say yes or no. Now is the time to get through this difficult period because I still think about Carlos every day, and it's not the time to think about others,” said Ferrero.

Seeing these statements makes us wonder if he’s kept the door open for a possible comeback in Carlos Alcaraz’s team? To this, Ferrero’s answer was as clear as it was revealing.

“Of course, I’m not closing the door. With the relationship we’ve had, closing the door definitively wouldn’t be logical, neither for him nor for the team. I want to end things well with them. Disagreeing on certain points doesn’t mean we’re not still friends or that we don’t maintain a very good relationship.”

In tennis terms, maybe not anytime soon. But in human terms, the answer is unmistakable. The bridge hasn’t burned. The door isn’t shut. And sometimes, the most meaningful partnership doesn’t end - they simply pause, waiting for the right moment to find their way back.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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