Rafael Nadal’s Uncle Toni Nadal ‘Surprised’ After Carlos Alcaraz’s Shock Split from Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero: “Relationships in Tennis are Difficult”

Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero guided his now ex-protege to six Grand Slam titles as well as to the No.1 ranking.

Rafael Nadal’s Uncle Toni Nadal ‘Surprised’ After Carlos Alcaraz’s Shock Split from Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero: “Relationships in Tennis are Difficult”

Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz, Toni Nadal (Image via X/Bastien Fachan, Swiss Tennis)

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Toni Nadal also gave his verdict on the shock Carlos Alcaraz–Juan Carlos Ferrero split. On Wednesday (December 17), both Alcaraz and his now ex-coach took to Instagram to announce that they no longer will work together, ending a seven-year partnership.

While working together, the 22-year-old took home his 24 tour-level singles titles, six of which were Grand Slam ones. Alcaraz also reached the No.1 ranking under Ferrero after winning the 2022 US Open, making him the youngest man in the Open Era to do so.

Since the news of the split, there have been incessant discussions about what could be the reason behind it. Alcaraz’s childhood coach, Kick Navarro, doesn’t think it was Alcaraz who wanted to remove the 2003 French Open champion. Former player, Alex Corretja, is convinced the youngster will “miss” Ferrero “badly” and could make the six-time Grand Slam champion a more mature person.

Toni, who coached his nephew and 22-time Grand Slam champion, did not find the breakup logical. But Toni also knows that the relationships in the tennis world are not easy.

Of course, it surprised me, especially after such a good season. The logical thing would have been to continue because Alcaraz finished as the world number one. Relationships in the world of tennis are difficult because the one who pays, which is the player, usually pays to hear what he wants to hear. For me, it was easy to tell my player things he didn’t like to hear because it was different; he (Nadal) was my nephew, I had a different relationship.

Toni Nadal told Radioestadio Noche

Alcaraz took home eight titles from 11 finals this year, including the French Open and the US Open. He also reached the title clash of the ATP Final for the first time in his career, but failed to go past arch-rival Jannik Sinner.

Andy Roddick thinks Carlos Alcaraz will find it hard to adapt after removing Juan Carlos Ferrero from his team

Andy Roddick thinks whoever joins Carlos Alcaraz‘s team as his coach will have to learn a lot of stuff that the Spaniard prefers while practicing. Roddick knows that an “otherworldly talent” like Alcaraz, Ferrero, or no Ferrero, is going to win more Majors, but the 2003 US Open champion is also convinced that Alcaraz, in the short term, will find it hard to adapt in the absence of the 45-year-old.

Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz
Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/AllAboutHQ)

The other thing is that Juan Carlos can hit really well. He plays great. So you are talking about warming up your player, there is a world where they go out and have a stock 28-minute drill session that he can actually get in and do. It’s not as if a lot of people are walking around that can handle Carlos’s ball in practice and know what he wants.

Andy Roddick said on his Served podcast

Samuel Lopez, who joined Alcaraz’s team last year in December, will continue to be a part of his team. The next major event is the Australian Open, so the timing of the split was surprising as well, given that Alcaraz has never reached the semifinals of the first Grand Slam event of the year.

This year in the tournament, Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals, where 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic knocked him out in four sets. Before the Australian Open, Alcaraz will also feature in an exhibition event in Incheon, South Korea. He will lock horns with none other than Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz has already featured in two exhibition events during the off-season, including one in Miami, where he defeated Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca.

Also read: Ex-ATP Pro Thinks Carlos Alcaraz’s Roland Garros Win over Jannik Sinner Was ‘Almost a Miracle’