Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero have parted ways ahead of the 2026 season…
After seven years and six Grand Slam titles, the Spaniards have split up.
The announcement was unexpected, to say the least, leaving tennis fans shocked.
Why do you think Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero split?
While Alcaraz and Ferrero exchanged messages on social media, it’s unclear what the true reason behind the decision was.
Earlier this year, Ferrero highlighted the one thing that would make him leave Alcaraz…
But was that the reason for their split?
Juan Carlos Ferrero said he’d leave Carlos Alcaraz if he no longer wanted to be the best
During Alcaraz’s Netflix documentary, Ferrero shared what could make him quit his role as the Spaniard’s head coach.
“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.”
Ferrero said he would’ve found it difficult to remain in charge of Alcaraz if his expectations dropped, but considering the 22-year-old finished the year ranked number one in the world, that can’t have been the reason for their split…
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain | 12,050 |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | Italy | 11,500 |
| 3 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 5,160 |
| 4 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 4,830 |
| 5 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada | 4,245 |
| 6 | Taylor Fritz | USA | 4,135 |
| 7 | Alex de Minaur | Australia | 4,135 |
| 8 | Lorenzo Musetti | Italy | 4,040 |
| 9 | Ben Shelton | USA | 3,970 |
| 10 | Jack Draper | Great Britain | 2,990 |
Not only did Alcaraz finish 2025 as world number one, but he also won more titles than anyone else.
Carlos Alcaraz’s 2025 ATP title wins
- Rotterdam Open (ATP 500)
- Monte-Carlo Masters (Masters 1000)
- Italian Open (Masters 1000)
- French Open (Grand Slam)
- Queen’s (ATP 500)
- Cincinnati Open (Masters 1000)
- US Open (Grand Slam)
- Japan Open (ATP 500)
Alcaraz won his fifth and sixth Grand Slam titles this year, defeating Jannik Sinner in both finals.
Enjoying as much success as they did together, it’s hard to understand why they came to such a decision…
Who would you like to see Juan Carlos Ferrero coach next?
- Taylor Fritz?
- Ben Shelton?
- Someone else?
Moving on from Ferrero, Alcaraz will continue to be coached by Samuel Lopez in 2026.
The pair already have a good rapport, and worked together in Ferrero’s absence at several tournaments earlier this year.
In fact, Alcaraz won the Rotterdam Open and the Monte-Carlo Masters with Lopez as his coach, two tournaments Ferrero chose not to attend.
It remains to be seen if Alcaraz and Lopez can win more titles together in 2026, but if they don’t, his decision to split with Ferrero will soon come into question…
Carlos Alcaraz will play Jannik Sinner in his first match without Juan Carlos Ferrero
Alcaraz will have plenty of eyes on him for his first match of the ‘Post-Ferrero era’, as he gets set to take on Sinner in South Korea.
The exhibition match between the pair will take place on January 10, eight days before the Australian Open begins.
While Alcaraz has had the better of his head-to-head with Sinner on the ATP Tour, in exhibition matches, it’s been the Italian who has prevailed.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s head-to-head record
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 ATP Finals – F | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 7-6, 7-5 |
| 2025 US Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
| 2025 Cincinnati Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 5-0 (RET) |
| 2025 Wimbledon – F | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2025 French Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2025 Italian Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 7-6, 6-1 |
| 2024 China Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2024 French Open – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2024 Indian Wells – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2023 China Open – SF | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 7-6, 6-1 |
| 2023 Miami Open – SF | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2023 Indian Wells – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2022 US Open – QF | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 6-3, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2022 Croatia Open – F | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2022 Wimbledon – 4R | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-1, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 |
| 2021 Paris Masters – 2R | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 7-6, 7-5 |
Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner in exhibitions
- 2024 Six Kings Slam F – Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 6-7, 6-3, 6-3
- 2025 Six Kings Slam F – Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz, 6-2, 6-4
Sinner beat Alcaraz in the Six Kings Slam final two years in a row, clinching the big-money prize in Saudi Arabia.
Only time will tell if Alcaraz can beat Sinner in their third exhibition bout in South Korea next year…
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