David Ferrer reveals if he’ll coach Carlos Alcaraz after leaving Barcelona Open as director

Juan Carlos Ferrero is currently coaching World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz, who is in Barcelona and reached the final.

David Ferrer reveals if he’ll coach Carlos Alcaraz after leaving Barcelona Open as director

Carlos Alcaraz, David Ferrer (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Tennis Channel)

David Ferrer has announced that he has resigned from his post as Barcelona Open director. The tournament is underway at Real Club de Tenis Barcelona and will conclude on Sunday (April 20).

Ferrer, however, will still be the captain of Spain’s Davis Cup. During an interview with Eurosport, when Ferrer was asked if he foresees him in Carlos Alcaraz‘s team as his coach, the 43-year-old denied the same.

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No…I don’t know. You know what happens? I don’t think much further. Life is made up of stages that you have to know how to begin and end, I’ve learned that very well.

David Ferrer said

Alcaraz is currently coached by 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero who joined the 21-year-old’s team in 2019 after parting ways with World No.3 Alexander Zverev. Under Ferrero, the youngster became a four-time Grand Slam champion and also climbed to the top of the rankings table after lifting his career’s first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open.

Alcaraz is in Barcelona, bidding to win his third title of the season following his victories at the Rotterdam Open and the Monte Carlo Masters. He is also chasing his third title in Barcelona, following the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Last year, he skipped the tournament because of an injury.

David Ferrer says he doesn’t regret making Rafael Nadal play at the Davis Cup

When Rafael Nadal announced that he would be retiring at the Davis Cup in November, almost the entire tennis world expected David Fererr to make him play; and Nadal did play. In the quarterfinal tie against the Netherlands, the 22-time Grand Slam champion played his last official match. It was against Botic van de Zandschulp who became the player Nadal last clashed with.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Image via Game, Set & Talk)

Nadal lost the match with a 6-4, 6-4 scoreline. Later, Carlos Alcaraz tied the score when he beat Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets. But the pair of Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers lost the doubles match against Wesley Koolhof and van de Zandschulp and Spain eventually got knocked out of the tournament.

Ferrer, when asked during the same interview with Eurosport, whether Nadal entered the match because it was his final tournament, the 2013 French Open finalist denied the same. He said he was confident that the 38-year-old would be able to win the match.

At first, until you see them compete, you can’t make a decision. I made that decision consciously, confident that it would work out. I didn’t make it because it was Rafa or because it was his last event. I truly believed Rafa was going to compete at a very high level, I thought he was going to win, but then it didn’t work out.

David Ferrer said

Ferrer has won three Davis Cup titles with Spain (in 2008, 2009, and 2011). When he was asked whether he was able to sleep that night after losing the tie against the Netherlands, Ferrer said not being a player rather makes things “much calmer“.

Because of the defeat, Ferrer recalled how the atmosphere in the locker room was “sad“. He also felt the ITF didn’t do a better job while paying tribute to Nadal. The French Open has been preparing for a “special” ceremony for Nadal this year.

Nadal suffered from a hip injury at the 2023 Australian Open following which, he skipped the rest of the season, before making his comeback at the 2024 Brisbane International. But another injury troubled him and he skipped a few more tournaments before playing the Barcelona Open.

Before the Davis Cup, Nadal played the Paris Olympics where he also paired up with Alcaraz but they lost in the quarterfinals. Nadal reached just one final in the season, at the Swedish Open which he lost to Nuno Borges.