Former world no.1 says he’s not interested in taking Carlos Alcaraz coaching job

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Carlos Alcaraz has yet to replace Juan Carlos Ferrero ahead of 2026 Australian Open

Uncertainty still surrounds Carlos Alcaraz’s coaching situation following his recent split with Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Alcaraz announced the end of their partnership earlier this month, even though the pair had achieved a great deal together over the years.

Despite the split coming just before the 2026 Australian Open, Ferrero isn’t worried about how things will go for Alcaraz.

Another Spaniard, Samuel Lopez, is still part of Alcaraz’s coaching setup. Lopez remains a steady presence in his camp as he continues to chase his first title at Melbourne Park.

Kafelnikov clear about Alcaraz coaching job

Since parting ways with Ferrero, Carlos Alcaraz is yet to add an Australian Open title to his collection. But even without that trophy, he’s built quite a resume. With Ferrero by his side, he’s already picked up two Grand Slam titles.

Former world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov was asked about what kind of profile the next coach should have and how tough the search might be. He made it clear straight away that he isn’t interested in getting involved himself.

Kafelnikov replied: “If you ask me, I personally would not want to deal with the parents. If Carlos approaches someone directly, that’s OK.”

He added: “The first thing a new coach should ask for is that the parents stay away from the coaching process. They can sit in the box, they can travel with the team, but they can’t interfere.

“A father cannot be an agent, taking care of all the deals, scheduling and everything else. I’m honestly not sure who could take the helm now.”

Looking back at Yevgeny Kafelnikov’s tennis career

Kafelnikov has left a lasting mark on tennis, with his achievements earning him a spot in the Hall of Fame.

In addition to reaching number one in the ATP rankings, he won two Grand Slam singles titles: one at the French Open and another at the Australian Open.

The Russian also reached another Grand Slam final in 2000, losing to Andre Agassi, but added four doubles titles to his tally across various majors.

Kafelnikov also won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and finished his career with 26 ATP titles overall.

Alcaraz is closing in on that total already, having earned 24 titles so far. It’s worth noting that Ferrero played a key part in helping him get there.