Carlos Alcaraz Hails Samuel Lopez Amid Juan Carlos Ferrero Split: “Best Coach in the World”

Carlos Alcaraz is eyeing a 7th Grand Slam title, at the ongoing Australian Open 2026.

Samuel Lopez and Carlos Alcaraz (image via Tiscali Sports)

The Australian Open is always a hotbed for drama, but this year, the biggest story isn’t just about forehands and backhands—it’s about the new voice in Carlos Alcaraz‘s ear. By now, everyone has probably heard the news.

The World No.1 kicked off his campaign in Melbourne with a solid straight-sets win over local hope Adam Walton. But if the fans looked closely at the player’s box, they noticed that Juan Carlos Ferrero was absent. Instead, all eyes are on Samuel Lopez.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Alcaraz hailed Lopez as one of the best coaches on the ATP Tour. The Spaniard claimed that the insights provided by Lopez are unlike those of anyone else.

Every person, every coach, is different. Some bring one thing to the table, others bring something else. What he gives me is everything a coach can offer today. Samu wasn’t number one or even a top-ranked professional tennis player, but he’s a fantastic coach. He hasn’t received the recognition he deserves. Many coaches have tried to sell me on him, and I don’t think that’s fair because he’s one of the best, if not the best, coaches around right now. What he brings to the table is something many coaches can’t offer.

The decision to switch coaches right before chasing history has set the tennis world on fire. Alcaraz isn’t just looking for another trophy; he is hunting down the final piece of his career Grand Slam puzzle.

It’s a bold, risky move to shake up a winning formula, but if the first round is any indication, the Lopez era might be exactly what the Spaniard needs to cement his legacy.

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The shocking split and the arrival of Samuel Lopez

For seven years, Juan Carlos Ferrero guided Carlos Alcaraz from a raw, teenage prodigy to the dominant force in men’s tennis. They seemed inseparable. That’s why the sudden pivot to Samuel Lopez in December 2025 sent shockwaves through the locker room. Why fix what isn’t broken?

Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz, Samuel Lopez (Image via Instagram/Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz)

According to Alcaraz, it wasn’t about things being broken; it was about evolution. He didn’t want a cheerleader; he wanted a tactician who could refine the nuanced edges of his game.

Lopez is known for his analytical approach and his ability to tweak mechanics without destroying a player’s natural instinct. Alcaraz specifically sought out Lopez to bring a fresh perspective, signaling that the young star is ready to move past his “prodigy” phase and into a mature era of dominance.

Has Carlos Alcaraz improved under Samuel Lopez?

So, what does a Samuel Lopez game plan actually look like? The fans got their first real taste during the match against Adam Walton at Rod Laver Arena. While the 6‑3, 7‑6(2), 6‑2 scoreline looks comfortable, the devil was in the details.

Tennis analysts immediately spotted changes in Alcaraz’s service motion. Under Lopez’s tutelage, the ball toss looks slightly altered, and the knee bend is deeper, drawing comparisons to Novak Djokovic‘s mechanical efficiency. This is no accident. Lopez knows that to win in Melbourne—a place where Djokovic reigned supreme for so long—Alcaraz needs free points on your serve.

The timing of this partnership puts immense pressure on Lopez. Alcaraz is walking a tightrope of expectation. If he lifts the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, he becomes the youngest man in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam, shattering the record held by his idol, Rafael Nadal.

One match doesn’t make a championship, and the road only gets steeper from here. Alcaraz has advanced to the second round to face Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann. This will be another test of the new systems Lopez has implemented.