Carlos Alcaraz is heading into the 2025 season without Juan Carlos Ferrero after the two went their separate ways earlier this month.
Back in 2023, there was some tension between Ferrero and Alcaraz’s team. While they stayed together for a while after that, things didn’t really improve.
The split wasn’t exactly a surprise in the end, with their relationship never really getting back on track.
Ferrero could still find his way back into Alcaraz’s camp at some point, but for now, Samuel Lopez has taken over and will be leading the world number one into 2026.
Yevgeny Kafelnikov suggests Ferrero’s exit may have been triggered by conflict with Alcaraz’s father
Kafelnikov didn’t shy away from pointing to parental interference as a potential issue.
When asked by Clay if he thought it was a mistake for Alcaraz to let Ferrero go, Kafelnikov replied:
“The biggest mistake is when parents interfere with the process. I don’t know the background of Carlos’s father, but I never liked it when someone does that… For example, in my family it was me who was making all the decisions.”
Kafelnikov also claimed that there was “a big dispute between Juan Carlos and Carlos’s father” that led to the split between coach and player.
He added: “I’ve always said that these kinds of situations will, in the end, affect the player negatively – when parents interfere. “Carlos is a grown man, he is the one who can make all the decisions now. I don’t know why he didn’t tell his father: ‘Look, it’s my own deal, we’ve been very successful together, won so many Slams, made so much money…’ That part is a bit disappointing for me.”
Juan Carlos Ferrero was instrumental in Carlos Alcaraz’s rise
It’s unlikely we’ll ever get the full story of what went on between Alcaraz’s camp and Ferrero during those final talks.
There was clearly something serious enough to derail what had been an incredibly successful partnership, especially given how much more they could have accomplished together.
At just 22, Alcaraz has already claimed six Grand Slam titles and sits atop the men’s rankings.
He’s also got 24 ATP titles to his name, and there’s no question that Ferrero was a key factor in helping him reach those heights.
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