Juan Carlos Ferrero Says His Relationship With Carlos Alcaraz Was ‘Not at All Paternal’

Juan Carlos Ferrero will be coaching a tennis player next season. During his recent interviews, Ferrero revealed that the coaching announcement will be made on November 9.

Ferrero split with Carlos Alcaraz last December over disputes with the new contract. After parting ways, Alcaraz started working with Samuel Lopez (who joined his team in 2024), while Ferrero joined Spanish golfer Angel Ayora‘s team.

In an interview with El Mundo, Ferrero discussed his relationship with his former protege and whether he would change anything about the end of his partnership with the World No. 3.

There was a very strong connection. Over the years, we grew fond of each other and developed a friendship. A very strong, trusting relationship was created, and that made us strong. That was one of the foundations of our career together. But the relationship wasn’t paternal, not at all. You have to keep family, coach, and friends separate.

At the Australian Open, Alcaraz won his first Major without the guidance of Ferrero. He beat Novak Djokovic in the final, with the win making Alcaraz the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Ferrero did not watch that final. Under Ferrero, the 23-year-old won six Grand Slam titles and reached the No. 1 ranking for the first time in 2022.

I would change things about his career, not just the last year. But we didn’t part ways because of a specific event that I could change.

Juan Carlos Ferrero added

At present, Alcaraz is competing at the Vienna Open, chasing his fourth title of the season. Outside the Australian Open, the Spanish ace won the Qatar Open and defended his title at the Japan Open.

Juan Carlos Ferrero on Alexander Zverev’s achievements this season

Alexander Zverev played three Grand Slam finals this season. After losing to eventual runner-up Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Australian Open, he reached the finals of the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

Sascha beat Flavio Cobolli in Paris, lost to defending champion Jannik Sinner in the grass-court Major, while in New York, he doubled his title tally by defeating Ben Shelton. Zverev will now reach the No.1 ranking for the first time in his career.

He will dethrone Sinner from the top as the Italian ace has already ended his season. Alcaraz skipped both the French Open and Wimbledon because of a knee injury. Sinner lost in the second round of the French Open after a physical collapse.

Then at the US Open, Shelton eliminated Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. Sinner skipped the tournament because of his knee injury. In short, Zverev has capitalized on the injury woes of both players, which is why many believe he wouldn’t have achieved these milestones if both Sinner and Alcaraz had been healthy at those events. But Juan Carlos Ferrero once again came to his former protege’s defense.

I think it’s well-deserved. He’s a player who I believe has been working towards this for a long time. Perhaps his level and development had stagnated a bit over the last three or four years. But in the last year and a half, I think he’s realized this and has really been trying to improve. It just so happens that neither Carlos nor Jannik have been there. He’s taken advantage of the opportunity. But I think that now, having seized that opportunity, he’s going to be mentally stronger to try and compete on equal terms with them.

Juan Carlos Ferrero said during his interview with Eurosport Spain

Zverev is in Vienna, chasing his third title of the season. After a three-set win over Martin Landaluce, the German has scheduled his next match against Tallon Griekspoor.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Reveals Why He Was ‘Unhappy’ During Practice Session in Vienna