Ex-WTA Pro ‘Worried’ Carlos Alcaraz ‘Could End Up Quitting’ Like Bjorn Borg at 25 After Juan Carlos Ferrero Split

Carlos Alcaraz is the second youngest man after Bjorn Borg to win six Grand Slam titles.

Ex-WTA Pro ‘Worried’ Carlos Alcaraz ‘Could End Up Quitting’ Like Bjorn Borg at 25 After Juan Carlos Ferrero Split

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

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Carlos Alcaraz will no longer be working with Juan Carlos Ferrero because they have ended their seven-year coaching partnership. This came as a complete shock to the entire tennis world, plus the timing of the split raised many questions.

Alcaraz had the best season of his career as he claimed eight trophies from 11 finals, which is also the most on the men’s tour his year. Two of these titles are the French Open and the US Open, both of which he lifted by going past his arch-rival Jannik Sinner.

On the back of his successful run, the six-time Grand Slam champion also won the ATP Player of the Year for the second time. The first time was in 2022 when he lifted his career’s first Grand Slam title at the US Open and also reached the No.1 ranking. In the same two seasons, Ferrero won the ATP Coach of the Year.

Amidst all the debates and discussions about the shock breakup, former WTA pro Marion Bartoli is worried about Alcaraz’s future. Bartoli thinks that without a proper structure, Alcaraz could end up calling time on his career earlier, similar to ATP legend Bjorn Borg, who hung up his racket at 26 after winning 11 Grand Slam titles. Alcaraz clinched his sixth Major at the US Open, becoming the second youngest man in the Open Era to reach the tally after the Swede.

I am worried, but in a measured way, because he is someone who has exceptional qualities to begin with. But he needs structure because otherwise, he could end up quitting tennis like Borg did at 25. And we have a genius here, so we don’t want that; we want him to continue for a very, very long time.

Marion Bartoli said on the show Les Grandes Gueules du Sport on RMC

Ferrero joined Alcaraz’s team in 2019 after the Spanish ace joined the former’s academy in Spain a year earlier. Under the 2003 French Open champion, Alcaraz not only became a World No.1 and won his six Grand Slam titles, but also lifted his 24 tour-level trophies. He also reached the championship clash of the ATP Finals this year, but couldn’t go past his Sinner, who defended his crown in straight sets.

Former basketball player slams Carlos Alcaraz’s team for their treatment of Juan Carlos Ferrero

Although neither Carlos Alcaraz nor Juan Carlos Ferrero revealed the reason behind the end of their collaboration, reports have emerged that failed contract negotiations resulted in the split.

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

As per those reports, Ferrero was given the new contract and was told to accept or reject it within 48 hours. There was a salary reduction in one of the clauses, but that was not the main issue.

The Spanish coach did not accept certain clauses, and on Wednesday (December 17), both Alcaraz and his now former coach, Ferrero, took to their respective social media to announce the split. Reacting to this rumour, former basketball player Frederic Weis, who was also a silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics, censured Alcaraz’s team for the way they treated the 2003 French Open champion.

What worries me is the ultimatum, the demand to respond within 48 hours. It’s a very peculiar way of treating someone you’ve worked with for seven years. It’s outrageous.

Frederic Weis said on RMC Sport’s Les Grandes Gueules du Sport radio show

Coach Samuel Lopez, who joined Alcaraz’s team last December, is expected to take the reins as the head coach. Along with Ferrero, Lopez also won the ATP Coach of the Year this season.

The next big event is the 2026 Australian Open, where Alcaraz will be bidding to complete the Career Grand Slam. This year, he lost in the quarterfinals to Novak Djokovic.

Also read: Tim Henman Shares Which Player Can Really Join ‘Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner Conversation’ in Near Future