Childhood Coach Boldly Claims Carlos Alcaraz Did Not Take Decision to Part Ways with Juan Carlos Ferrero

Carlos Alcaraz claimed 24 tour-level titles, including six Majors, while working with Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Childhood Coach Boldly Claims Carlos Alcaraz Did Not Take Decision to Part Ways with Juan Carlos Ferrero

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

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On Wednesday (December 17), to the shock of the entire tennis world, Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero ended their seven-year coaching partnership. Both of them shared lengthy posts on social media, announcing the split.

Ferrero wrote that he would have liked to continue the partnership, and this sparked rumors that the decision to part ways was Alcaraz’s. But Alcaraz’s childhood coach, Kiko Navarro, doesn’t think this was the case, as he wonders if the decision to remove Ferrero from the team came from a higher position.

It was more from the environment than from the player; Carlitos is very protective of his coaches. He was with me, and I know he was with Juan Carlos, but there comes a moment when, due to reasons not related to him or sports, they have made this decision. Juan Carlos has done a spectacular job; I worked with him for two years, and there is little to blame him for. The people who made the decision, which is not Carlitos, will have their reasons, which I don’t know now.

Kiko Navarro told RNE

Ferrero, a former World No.1 and the winner of the 2003 French Open, called time on his career in 2012 and joined Alcaraz’s team in 2019 when the Spanish ace was just 15 years old. Alcaraz achieved a lot while working with Ferrero. He reached the No.1 ranking after winning the 2022 US Open at 19, becoming the youngest man in the Open Era to do so.

Alcaraz went on to win five more Grand Slam titles under Ferrero, including this year’s French Open and the US Open. Alcaraz is the winner of 24 titles, which include the aforementioned Majors as well as eight Masters 1000 titles. All of these he won under Ferrero.

Kiko Navarro backs Samuel Lopez as the head coach of Carlos Alcaraz

Samuel Lopez is still a part of Carlos Alcaraz‘s team. Lopez joined Alcaraz’s team in December 2024, and Kiko Navarro, during that aforementioned interview with RNE, backed Lopez as head coach of the 22-year-old. But he also thinks a second person with “more recognition” will be added to the entourage because of the long tennis season.

Carlos Alcaraz Juan Carlos Ferrero
Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero (via X/The Tennis Letter)

I know that Alcaraz’s father, who manages everything, admires Samu a lot and knows he is a professional. It saddens me a bit that it seems that to coach Carlitos, you need a big name, like a Ferrero or Moya, Djokovic, or Nadal. I don’t think it’s that way. In the end, it’s about Carlos respecting the coach. In fact, Samu López has more coaching experience than Ferrero, and it’s normal, as he has worked with Nico Almagro, Pablo Carreno, knowing the circuit. He is a very humble person and a great professional. I do see him, and I think the father also does, as Alcaraz’s head coach.

Kiko Navarro said

The decision to part ways with Juan Carlos Ferrero ahead of the Australian Open raised eyebrows. Alcaraz has struggled at the Australian Open as he has yet to progress beyond the quarterfinals.

This season, the World No.1 suffered a four-set defeat at the hands of 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the last eight. The main draw of the 2026 Australian Open starts on January 18. But Alcaraz finished the season with the most titles on the men’s tour. He reached 11 finals, winning eight titles, which also includes the two Majors and three Masters 1000s. Alcaraz also reached the championship clash of the ATP Finals for the first time but failed to end it in his favor with a straight-set defeat to his arch-rival Jannik Sinner.

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