BBC – Six-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz has split with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero in a shock move.
Alcaraz, 22, has worked with his fellow Spaniard since he was a teenager, but announced on Wednesday that the pair have “decided to part ways” before the 2026 season.
Neither the world number one nor Ferrero has given a reason for the split, but BBC Sport understands Ferrero did not want to leave his role.
“Thank you for turning childhood dreams into realities,” Alcaraz said in a statement.
“We started this journey when I was barely a kid, and throughout all this time you’ve accompanied me on an incredible journey, on and off the court.
“I’ve enjoyed every step of it so much with you.”
Alcaraz, who is aiming to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam at the season-opening Australian Open next month, has not outlined how he plans to replace Ferrero.
Alcaraz started working with former world number one Ferrero when he was 15, training with the 2003 French Open champion at his academy about an hour’s drive from Alcaraz’s home.
Ferrero was persuaded by Alcaraz’s agent Albert Molina, who spotted the youngster aged 11 and convinced international sports agency IMG to manage him a year later, to commit to what he saw as a long-term project.
Ferrero, 45, nurtured Alcaraz’s talent and took him into the professional ranks before guiding him to all six of his Grand Slam titles.
Alcaraz claimed his first major at the 2022 US Open, won Wimbledon in 2023, added the French Open and another Wimbledon title in 2024, before again winning the French Open and US Open this year.
“I wish I could have continued,” Ferrero said.
“I am convinced that good memories and good people always find a way to cross paths again.”
The announcement comes little over a month after Alcaraz celebrated finishing as the year-end men’s number one with Ferrero at the ATP Finals in Turin.
After losing to his great rival Jannik Sinner in the season-ending final, Alcaraz gave no indication of a potential split, saying he was looking forward to analysing his strengths and weaknesses in the off season.
However, a documentary released last year did show some signs of tension in their relationship.
In the series, Ferrero appeared frustrated with his protege’s application at certain times and questioned his decision to go to Ibiza after winning the French Open in 2023 – against the advice of Ferrero and his agent Molina.
But, after Alcaraz won this year’s US Open in a performance which he described as the best of his career, Ferrero praised the player’s growing maturity.
