Six-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz parted ways with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero ahead of the 2026 season. The player shared the shocking news through social media, ending a successful seven-year partnership.
“It is very difficult for me to write this post,” wrote the 22-year-old. “After over seven years together, Juanki and I have decided to end our time together as coach and player.”
“Thank you for making my childhood dreams a reality,” he added. “We started on this road when I was just a boy, and for all this time you have been with me on an incredible journey, on and off the court. I have enjoyed every step with you so much.”
Ferrero and Alcaraz began working together when the Murcia native was a teenager, embarking on a solid road to the elite of tennis that would see the pair achieve 24 titles on tour, eight of them at the Masters 1000 level.
“We have reached the top, and I think that if our sporting paths have to separate, it should be from there, from the place we always worked for and aspired to reach,” the Spaniard outlined when addressing their journey.
“You made me grow as an athlete, but more importantly as a person. The thing I value the most is that I enjoyed the process. I will never forget the journey we went on together.”
At the age of 19, Alcaraz claimed his maiden Grand Slam at the 2022 US Open, becoming the youngest man to reach the year-end No. 1, a feat he reclaimed by the end of this season.
“Now is a time of change for both of us, new adventures, new projects. I am sure that we will approach them in the correct way, giving our best, as we always have. Always moving forward,” further stated the two-time Roland-Garros winner.
Ferrero, a former world No. 1, helped elevate the young talent game with his rich experience and singular guidance, key to preparing his pupil to battle against the world’s best for nothing but glory.
“Today is a difficult day. One of those times when it’s hard to find the right words. Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when there are so many shared experiences behind it,” expressed the 45-year-old via Instagram.
“We have worked hard, grown together, and shared unforgettable moments. I want to thank you for the time, the trust, the learning, and above all, for the people who have surrounded me throughout this journey.”
Neither side shared the reason for the unexpected split nor whether Ferrero will be replaced as the main coach.
As of today, Samuel Lopez, who assisted Ferrero, will continue to work at the players’ side into the upcoming season.
“Today, a very important chapter of my life comes to an end. I close it with nostalgia, but also with pride and excitement for what may come next. I know that everything I have lived has prepared me to be better,” he remarked.
“I would also like to thank the entire team for making my work easier throughout all these years. With you, I have learned that work is not just about tasks or results, but about the people who walk alongside you. Every one of you has left a mark on me that I will never forget.
“I wish I could have continued. I am convinced that good memories and good people always find a way to cross paths again.”
Victorious
From 2022, there was no looking back for the young Spanish player who captivated the sport with his natural abilities to bring the game to a whole new level alongside Italian force Jannik Sinner.
In 2023, Sinner’s breakthrough season stole the spotlight, becoming the youngest Italian man to ever win a Masters title by age 22. Courtesy of their jaw-dropping fortnights, a new and exciting rivalry in tennis was born.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz won Wimbledon that same year, accomplishing a childhood dream.
Overall, he recorded 65 wins at the tour level, 11 losses, and 6 ATP titles, including his second Slam, to finish the year-end No.2.
For his part, Novak Djokovic earned his 24th Slam at the US Open at age 36, beating Daniil Medvedev in a memorable three-set championship match, ending the season at the top of the rankings.
By 2024, the young Italian exceptional campaign was rewarded by reaching the top of men’s tennis, capturing two majors in the process.
As for the heir to the King of Clay, he continued to improve his craft despite a rollercoaster of a season, a learning process for the man and the player, an elite athlete who regrouped to shift momentum when it mattered most.
Defying adversity throughout the first half of the year, he found his form to step into uncharted territory, winning the French Open for the first time, before defending his Wimbledon title.
In addition, he became the youngest player to reach an Olympic gold medal match, losing to Djokovic in a historic contest.
In 2025, Alcaraz left the numbers do the talking, portraying a season where he triumphed for the second time in New York, lifting his sixth major trophy at the age of 22 off a dominant, passionate tennis showing to prevail over Sinner in four sets.
Having split two majors apiece between them in 2025, as in 2024, the duo heads to a new season, the first for Alcaraz without Ferrero in his corner.