World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz has announced a surprising split from his long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero after more than seven years together. The decision marks the end of one of the most successful player-coach relationships in recent tennis history.
Ferrero’s emotional farewell
Ferrero shared a heartfelt message reflecting on his journey with Alcaraz. “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,” he said. He expressed gratitude for the trust, effort, and unforgettable moments they shared, while admitting he wished the collaboration could have continued.
Achievements together
Since joining forces when Alcaraz was a teenager, Ferrero guided him to 24 career titles, including six Grand Slams. Their partnership helped Alcaraz reach the top of the ATP rankings and establish himself as one of the sport’s brightest stars. In 2025, Ferrero and Samuel Lopez were honored with the ATP Coach of the Year award after Alcaraz captured both Roland Garros and the US Open among eight titles that season.
Alcaraz’s message of gratitude
Alcaraz also paid tribute to Ferrero in a post on X. “Gracias por haber hecho de sueños de niño, realidades. Empezamos este camino cuando apenas era un chaval, y durante todo este tiempo me has acompañado en un viaje increíble, dentro y fuera de la pista,” he wrote. He emphasized how Ferrero had helped him grow not only as an athlete but also as a person, and thanked him for turning his childhood dreams into reality.
Looking ahead
While no reasons have been given for the split, both Ferrero and Alcaraz expressed optimism about the future. Ferrero noted, “I wish I could have continued. I am convinced that good memories and good people always find a way to cross paths again.” Alcaraz described the moment as the beginning of “new adventures and new projects” for both, highlighting the mutual respect and appreciation that defined their partnership.
The end of their collaboration closes a remarkable chapter in tennis, but both figures remain poised to continue shaping the sport in their own ways.
Es muy difícil para mí escribir este post… Tras más de siete años juntos, Juanki y yo hemos decidido poner fin a nuestra etapa juntos como entrenador y jugador.
Gracias por haber hecho de sueños de niño, realidades. Empezamos este camino cuando apenas era un chaval, y durante… pic.twitter.com/D4GSxYsZUY
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) December 17, 2025
Carlos Alcaraz in 2025
LWWWWLWWWW Ranked world no.1, Carlos played his last match on the 16th of November when he lost to world no.2 Jannik Sinner 7-6(4) 7-5 in the final in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
This season Alcaraz has achieved an overall 71-9 win-loss record. The Spaniard clinched 8 titles in 2025 in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo, Rome, French Open, London, Cincinnati, U.S. Open and Tokyo. Alcaraz was the runner-up in Barcelona, Wimbledon and the Nitto ATP Finals.
