Carlos Alcaraz’s Childhood Coach Convinced World No.1 ‘Had Already Spoken with Someone’ to Join Team After Juan Carlos Ferrero Breakup

Carlos Alcaraz, next year, will be aiming to win his career's first Australian Open title.

Carlos Alcaraz’s Childhood Coach Convinced World No.1 ‘Had Already Spoken with Someone’ to Join Team After Juan Carlos Ferrero Breakup

Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

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Carlos Alcaraz‘s childhood coach, Carlos Santos, thinks the World No.1 has already asked someone to join his team as his head coach. Alcaraz has split with Juan Carlos Ferrero on Wednesday (December 17), marking an end to a seven-year partnership.

The Spanish ace joined the former World No.1’s Ferrero Tennis Academy back in 2018 as a 15-year-old, and a year later, he was hired as his coach. The partnership saw the 22-year-old become a World No.1 and win 24 tour-level titles, six of which were Grand Slam ones.

Alcaraz also reached the championship clash of the ATP Finals this year but failed to go past arch-rival Jannik Sinner. His childhood coach, Santos, during his interview with

I think there will be another coach. I couldn’t tell you who, but it has to be someone who is willing to settle in Murcia, to live here, and make things very comfortable and easy for Carlos. Right now, the closest coaches are busy. Like David Ferrer, for example, who is occupied with other things and is more or less close to us.

Carlos Santos told Eurosport Spain

Alcaraz will continue to work with Samuel Lopez, who joined his team in December last year. Lopez is expected to become Alcaraz’s main coach.

So I’m convinced that Samuel Lopez won’t be the head coach for the whole season. That’s for sure. There’s definitely something in the works, but we don’t know it yet. I’m sure that before parting ways with Juan Carlos, Carlos had already spoken with someone.

Carlos Santos added

This year, Alcaraz took home eight titles from 11 finals, the most on the men’s tour this season. Two of these titles were the French Open and the US Open, which he won by beating Sinner.

Juan Carlos Ferrero on his split with Carlos Alcaraz

Juan Carlos Ferrero has opened up about his split with Carlos Alcaraz during his interview with Marca. Ferrero confirmed that the failed contract negotiation was the reason why the two have separated. He did not agree with certain parts of the contract, as a result of which, he left the team. But Ferrero wanted to continue coaching Alcaraz, and he admitted that the breakup really “hurt” him.

Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz (2)
Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Game, Set & Talk)

That I gave it my all. I poured my heart and soul into this project. I think I invested a huge amount of time, a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of work, and I think it was important to find the team and the people who let me do it. In the end, I’m incredibly grateful for something like this. When we come in, at 15 years old, you see the player, you see how good he is, you see the potential, but you don’t imagine everything that’s to come.

Juan Carlos Ferreo said

Ferrero was also asked whether he would join Jannik Sinner’s team if he received the coaching offer. The 45-year-old said he is not keen on taking another job, at least in the near future.

Ferrero won’t accompany Alcaraz to the Australian Open, where the six-time Grand Slam champion will be bidding to complete the Career Grand Slam. Alcaraz, however, has never reached the semifinal of the Melbourne Major and twice made the quarterfinals.

This season, he lost to Novak Djokovic in the last eight in four sets. Last year, Alexander Zverev knocked him out in four sets in the quarterfinals. Before the Australian Open, Alcaraz will be playing the Hyundai Card Super Match exhibition event, where his opponent will be Sinner. Alcaraz and the Italian ace split the last eight Majors.

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