Juan Carlos Ferrero Finally Breaks Silence on Shock Split with Carlos Alcaraz: “Perhaps Disagreements Could Have Been Resolved”

Juan Carlos Ferrero won the ATP Coach of the Year twice while working with World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz.

Juan Carlos Ferrero Finally Breaks Silence on Shock Split with Carlos Alcaraz: “Perhaps Disagreements Could Have Been Resolved”

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

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Juan Carlos Ferrero shared details about his split with now ex-protege Carlos Alcaraz. Ferrero confirmed the rumors that the failed contract negotiation ended his seven-year partnership with the youngster.

As per the rumors, Ferrero was given just 48 hours to accept or reject the new contract. But he did not accept certain aspects of it, and this resulted in the split. During his interview with Marca, without revealing every detail about the failed deal, Ferrero said that though there were disagreements, things could have been solved had both sides communicated better.

And as with any new contract, looking ahead to the following year, there were certain things we disagreed on. As with all contracts, one side pulls in one direction and the other in another. Carlos’s camp thinks about what’s best for him, and mine thinks about what’s best for me. There were certain issues on which both parties disagreed. Perhaps they could have been resolved if we had sat down to talk, but in the end, we didn’t, and we decided not to continue. That’s really what happened.

Juan Carlos Ferrero said

Alcaraz started to work with the 2003 French Open champion in 2018 when he was just 15. The following season, the former World No.1 joined Alcaraz’s team as his head coach, and in the years that followed, the 22-year-old not only became the World No.1 but also took home 24 tour-level titles, including his Majors, all under Ferrero.

Alcaraz’s first Grand Slam victory at the 2022 US Open and his becoming the World No.1 player later awarded Ferrero the ATP Coach of the Year, while Alcaraz was given the ATP Player of the Year Award. Both of them won the same awards this year as well, given that Alcaraz finished the season with eight titles from 11 finals, including the French Open and the US Open.

Juan Carlos Ferrero on whether Samuel Lopez is capable of becoming Carlos Alcaraz’s main coach

Carlos Alcaraz added Samuel Lopez to his team last December. Lopez, who helped found Juan Carlos Ferrero‘s coaching academy, the Equelite Academy (now Ferrero Academy), coached several players, including Pablo Carreno Busta, before joining Alcaraz’s team.

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

Along with Ferrero, Lopez also won the ATP Coach of the Year award this year. They split the coaching responsibilities this year, and this saw Ferrero missing several tournaments. Lopez also worked with Alcaraz during the 2024 Australian Open when Ferrero was recovering from a knee injury. During that aforementioned interview with Marca, the 45-year-old was asked whether Lopez can handle the responsibility of the head coach of Alcaraz.

He has experience and has managed certain types of players, which has toughened him up considerably. The year he’s been with us has been the best preparation he could have had for this situation. He needs to prepare because I’ve always affectionately called Carlos ‘such a heavy, but good, freight train.’ He needs to be well-prepared because the responsibility is significant.

Juan Carlos Ferrero said

The Australian Open is the next major event, and Alcaraz, without the guidance of Ferrero, will be bidding to complete the Career Grand Slam. Alcaraz has never played the semifinals in the Major Down Under, reaching the quarterfinals twice, including this year, where his run was ended by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

This year, apart from the two Majors, Alcaraz also took home three Masters 1000 titles, in Monte Carlo, Rome, and Cincinnati. He also reached the final of the ATP Finals but failed to go past Jannik Sinner.

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