Carlos Alcaraz’s first-ever coach gives his verdict on split with Juan Carlos Ferrero

Follow us on Google Discover

Carlos Alcaraz’s split with Juan Carlos Ferrero is all anyone wants to talk about!

The Spanish duo won six Grand Slams during their seven-year partnership, but parted ways ahead of the 2026 season.

Announcing the split, Alcaraz and Ferrero sent each other heartfelt messages on social media, leaving fans confused as to how they came to such a decision.

Why do you think Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero split?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Several theories have been suggested, but one has stuck: that Ferrero and Alcaraz had a contractual dispute during recent negotiations.

Adding his thoughts to the ongoing debate, Alcaraz’s first-ever coach, Kiko Navarro, argued that the six-time Grand Slam winner may not have been the one to make the decision.

Kiko Navarro doesn’t believe Carlos Alcaraz wanted to split from Juan Carlos Ferrero

Appearing as a guest on ‘Radiogaceta de los Deportes‘, Navarro admitted he was surprised by the news.

“Everything has a beginning, and everything has an end. It surprised me because maybe if you told me it was last year, I’d be less surprised than this year, or any other year. It caught me a little by surprise,” he said.

“I’m a friend of the family, so I might know a few things, but it’s still a surprise.”

Unlike others, who have criticized the move, Navarro thinks now could be a good time for Alcaraz and Ferrero to part ways.

“Carlitos is very supportive of his coaches; he was with me, and I know he has been with Juan Carlos,” he said.

“But perhaps there comes a time when, for reasons beyond his control, he has decided to make this decision, and what better time than now, as world number 1?

2025 ATP year-end Top 10

“Juan Carlos has done a spectacular job. I was with him for two years working hand in hand, day after day, there is little to criticize him for.”

Navarro finished off by saying he didn’t think Alcaraz was the driving force behind the move.

“Perhaps it’s more on the part of those around him than the player himself,” he said.

“The people who made the decision, which I believe is not Carlitos, will have their reasons that I am currently unaware of.”

Whether it’s Alcaraz’s decision or those around him, it will be interesting to see if the world number one adds another coach to his team, replacing Ferrero.

Who would you like to see coach Carlos Alcaraz next?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

The likes of Andy Murray, David Ferrer, and Rafael Nadal have all been suggested as potential replacements.

However, Alcaraz may well choose to keep his coaching team as it is, for the time being, and work alongside Samuel Lopez in 2026.

Who is coaching every member of the ATP top 10?

Alcaraz is set to be coached by Lopez in the new year, but who is in charge of the nine other players ranked inside the top 10?

• 2. Jannik Sinner – Darren Cahill/Simone Vagnozzi
• 3. Alexander Zverev – Alexander Zverev Sr
• 4. Novak Djokovic – Boris Bosnjakovic
• 5. Felix Auger-Aliassime – Frederic Fontang
• 6. Taylor Fritz – Michael Russell/Paul Annacone
• 7. Alex de Minaur – Matt Reid
• 8. Lorenzo Musetti – Simone Tartarini
• 9. Ben Shelton – Bryan Shelton
• 10. Jack Draper – Jamie Delgado

Alcaraz’s biggest rival, Jannik Sinner, also had a few coaching issues to iron out this year…

Australia’s Darren Cahill announced his intentions to step down at the end of 2025 earlier this year, but has been persuaded to stay on for another season.

Losing Cahill would have been a big loss for Sinner, but with the Aussie in his corner, surely nothing is stopping him from winning a third consecutive Australian Open title in January!

Only time will tell who will emerge victorious Down Under, but you definitely won’t want to miss any of the action when the tournament begins on Sunday, January 18.