Carlos Alcaraz’s coaching situation has been one of the most talked-about topics in tennis over the last month or so.
After all, news of his split with Juan Carlos Ferrero came just as the season had come to an end, thus making it the overriding piece of news that has remained relevant even weeks later.
Even Brad Gilbert, who is famed for his roles coaching Coco Gauff, Andre Agassi and Andy Murray, has weighed in, offering the most up-to-date analysis on a story that continues to draw intrigue.
He has even sent a warning out to whoever might be selected to replace Ferrero, shortly after he ruled himself out of the job.
Brad Gilbert reacts to Carlos Alcaraz’s split from Juan Carlos Ferrero
Speaking on the Tennis Channel’s new Big T podcast, he, alongside Mark Petchey and Andrea Petkovic, sought to cover all the biggest news stories that tennis has produced in recent weeks.
Naturally, Carlos Alcaraz dominated, and Gilbert revealed what his immediate reaction was to hearing the news that he had split with Ferrero by stating: “I was shocked.”
How would you feel if Juan Carlos Ferrero returned to coach Carlos Alcaraz now?
He continued: “Then I started getting texts, and it’s like, ‘B.G., are you gonna coach him?’ And I’m like, ‘Geez, that’d be a good gig to start off coaching a guy like that.’
“But not to mention whoever is the next coach, if there is another one besides Samuel Lopez, you know, sometimes it’s better to work with a player when they’re on a little bit of a low point, as opposed to, like, what he accomplished last year.
“You know, it’s a lot of pressure, potentially for the next coach, and there’s a lot of pressure for Carlos to continue doing what he’s done.”
Gilbert concluded by admitting: “But I was stunned, honestly. I was expecting three to ten [in the world rankings], someone in there to make major changes. Because major changes needed to be made, because I feel like one and two’s distance between three and ten was a long way.
“Obviously, now, with this happening, it’s got to give three to ten a little bit of a hope to think maybe I don’t need to do something. We’ve got to hope that something happens.
“It’s an absolute stunner, but I still think, more than anything, advantage Sinner.”
Carlos Alcaraz will head into 2026 as an unknown quantity
Whilst everybody knows the supreme quality that Alcaraz boasts, it seems strange that he will head into 2026 as an unknown quantity for many.
In fact, some are even predicting the current world number one to struggle, having lost the coach who has nurtured him since he was a teenager.
This feels like something that has never happened before, where there is so much uncertainty and negativity surrounding a player who has just enjoyed one of the best campaigns of his career to date.
Why do you think Carlos Alcaraz has struggled at the Australian Open in the past?
2021 Australian Open – 1R
2022 Australian Open – 3R
2024 Australian Open – QF
2025 Australian Open – QF
Sam Querrey has predicted that Alcaraz won’t win a single Grand Slam title in 2026, such is the narrative building.
It will be interesting to see whether Samu Lopez can keep his 22-year-old protégé on the same path he is currently treading, and thus prove all the detractors wrong in the new season.
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