Former Doubles Legend Skeptical About Carlos Alcaraz’s Grand Slam Chances in 2026 After Juan Carlos Ferrero Split

Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz recently split after seven years together.

Former Doubles Legend Skeptical About Carlos Alcaraz’s Grand Slam Chances in 2026 After Juan Carlos Ferrero Split

Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Tenis en Espana)

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Todd Woodbridge, the doubles legend with 22 Grand Slam titles to his name, just dropped a bit of a bombshell regarding Carlos Alcaraz’s immediate future.

According to Woodbridge, Alcaraz winning a major title next year will be “difficult.” The reason is that the young Spaniard just parted ways with his long-time coach and mentor, Juan Carlos Ferrero. He told the Australian Open’s official Instagram account:

I think it will be difficult for Carlos to win a Grand Slam next year. We know he’s capable, but this change is puzzling to me, at this stage of his career. We’re talking about one of the best player-coach duos in history.

The Alcaraz-Ferrero partnership wasn’t just a player-coach relationship; it was arguably one of the most successful duos in recent history. The Spaniard built Alcaraz’s game from the ground up, leading to six Grand Slam titles and the World No. 1 ranking.

When Juan Carlos wasn’t by his side in recent years, Carlos didn’t play as well. You could see him looking towards the stands, more insecure . It will take him months to get used to this situation.

The concern isn’t just about tactics; it’s about the mental aspect of the game. Woodbridge pointed out that whenever Ferrero wasn’t in the player’s box recently, Alcaraz looked a little lost. Without that familiar anchor, Woodbridge believes it could take ‘Carlitos’ months to find his footing again.

Jannik Sinner: The unintentional winner according to Woodbridge

So, if Alcaraz is struggling to adjust, Jannik Sinner is most likely to benefit. The Italian lost six matches in 2025, and four of them came against the Spaniard. Woodbridge said:

Given this change, I think Jannik has an advantage and will achieve the treble in Melbourne.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

Sinner has already been a thorn in everyone’s side (especially on hard courts), having snagged the last two Australian Open titles. With Alcaraz potentially navigating an identity crisis post-Ferrero, Woodbridge sees Sinner as the clear favorite to secure a “three-peat” in Melbourne.

While Alcaraz is trying to figure out life without his tennis dad, Sinner is sitting pretty with a stable team and a game that’s looking scarier by the minute. After all, Darren Cahill has already more or less confirmed to be on his side until the end of 2026.

Can Carlos Alcaraz prove the doubters wrong?

Carlos Alcaraz is a generational talent. He’s done things at 22 that most players dream of doing in a lifetime. But tennis is a brutal sport, and disruption to the routine, especially one as significant as losing his primary coach, can derail even the best.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (4)
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

Considering Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz have basically monopolised the last eight Slams between them, any slip-up from the Spaniard leaves the door wide open for the Italian to dominate even further.

The duo of Sinner and Alcaraz has dominated the sport for two years, winning a combined eight Grand Slam titles. Moreover, they have collected eight Masters 1000 titles in the past two years, with Sinner also winning the last two ATP Finals.

Also Read: Rafael Nadal Reveals with Which Tennis Player Between ‘Scattered’ Carlos Alcaraz and ‘Focused’ Jannik Sinner He Identifies the Most