Juan Carlos Ferrero reveals what could potentially make him quit his role as Carlos Alcaraz’s coach

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Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz have worked together for several years, winning four Grand Slams together.

The world number three won two Major titles in 2024, as Alcaraz won the French Open for the first time, before defending his Wimbledon crown.

He failed to complete the Career Grand Slam in Melbourne this January, however, with Alcaraz falling at the quarterfinal stage of the Australian Open for the second year running.

Alcaraz could not match the high standards he’s set for himself during the early stages of the 2025 season, suffering several disappointing defeats on hard courts.

It is important to maintain those high expectations on the ATP Tour, however, as his coach now reveals he could leave his role should the standards dip.

Juan Carlos Ferrero would find it ‘very hard’ to keep going as Carlos Alcaraz’s coach if expectations dipped

Speaking in Alcaraz’s new Netflix documentary, Juan Carlos Ferrero said what would happen if the 21-year-old no longer wanted to be the best.

“We’re here to fight for you to be the best, for the qualities and opportunities you have,” he said.

“In the end, if you’re not sure, if you want to be number 15 in the world, we’ll lower the expectations.

“But the way I am, I think I’d find it very hard to keep going.”

Alcaraz is currently ranked third in the world, trailing world number one Jannik Sinner by just under 2,000 points.

Ferrero and Alcaraz have worked together since the latter was 15 years old, as the coach now explains what drew him to the youngster.

“The idea of working with a young kid and really building something from such a young age with the knowledge I have as both a player and a coach really appealed to me,” said Ferrero.

“Carlos [Alcaraz] was quite shy with me at first. I think he respected me a lot.

“He was very emotionally unstable. He’d be up here with his complaints, and if things went south, he’d come crashing down. It was like a rollercoaster. 

“But that confidence, that bravery, the way he faces challenges, really drew me to him.”

Alcaraz then reflected on his earliest memories of working together with Ferrero and another member of his coaching team.

“Man, what psychological torture, it really toughened me up, bro,” he said.

“Between these two guys [Pointing at Ferrero and another member of his team], they really toughened me up, man.”

Which ATP star did Juan Carlos Ferrero coach before Carlos Alcaraz?

Before he joined Alcaraz’s coaching team in 2019, Ferrero worked alongside another top-five ATP star.

Between July 2017 and February 2018, Ferrero coached world number two Alexander Zverev, guiding him to two tour-level titles.

• August 2017 – Alexander Zverev won the Washington Open
• August 2017 – Alexander Zverev won the Canadian Open

Zverev’s Canadian Open victory in August 2017 was his biggest win under Ferrero’s tutelage, as he took down the legendary Roger Federer in the final, 6-3, 6-4.

The pair split in 2018, with Ferrero sharing his thoughts on the German’s approach to tennis in an interview with 3iGuales two years later.

“They have too many distractions off the court,” he said.

“Phone calls, social networks, friends who suddenly appear, I watch them fooling around on Instagram and not thinking about tennis as it was in our time.

“[Alexander] Zverev was, for example, three hours on the court, but he could not perform quality training for an hour and a half.

“At the time, we collided due to his lack of punctuality and lack of respect for the team members.”

Ferrero has enjoyed far more success with Alcaraz as his pupil, and will no doubt hope to see the Spaniard pick up his 19th career title at this year’s Madrid Open.

Alcaraz is scheduled to begin his assault on a third-career Madrid Open title on Saturday, April 26, against Zizou Bergs or Yoshihito Nishioka.