Alcaraz's new coach deleting posts sparks painful interpretations by media, Bartoli fears the Spaniard may retire at 25

The public backlash triggered by the split with coach Ferrero continues to escalate, and given the ongoing developments, every move by Alcaraz and his team is under intense scrutiny, likely propelling this issue forward like a bullet.

After seven years of collaboration, head coach Ferrero left Alcaraz’s team due to complicated conflicts involving the Spaniard’s father, which led to Lopez being abruptly promoted to head coach; unexpectedly, this new coach’s early tenure has already stirred a fresh wave of controversy around Alcaraz and his team.

“The first week of preseason training is complete. After passing the medical check, we began preparations with good condition, effort, and commitment. We continue to train with passion, ambition, and unity, focusing on daily improvement and making history in this sport.” In theory, Lopez’s social media post as Alcaraz’s new head coach, updating the public on the current training status, seemed fine. Some fans and netizens were even pleased that Alcaraz’s training appeared unaffected by the split with Ferrero, but the situation soon changed.

Lopez, the new coach, seemingly excitedly shared a post with pictures and a training video of Alcaraz, initially reassuring those worried about Alcaraz; however, his subsequent actions left many people confused.

Alcaraz’s new head coach suddenly deleted his post, and without any explanation afterward, this sparked another wave of public speculation.

Lopez’s action caused a heated debate among many Spanish media, fans, and netizens, and was sharply analyzed by the Spanish media outlet CLAY.

CLAY’s analysis suggested that the phrase “We continue to train with passion, ambition, and unity” might have been considered highly inappropriate by Lopez or the entire Alcaraz team after the fact, which was likely the main reason for deleting the post.

According to CLAY, “The more you emphasize something, the more it reveals its absence!”

CLAY’s poignant interpretation reignited the heat around Alcaraz and Ferrero’s split because it essentially told everyone that, with Ferrero gone and various revelations emerging, Alcaraz’s team is not as calm and peaceful as Lopez’s post suggested. On the contrary, this might be the true state of the Spanish team. Otherwise, why would Lopez post and then suddenly delete it? Clearly, he was uneasy, fearing the truth might be uncovered, leading to unnecessary criticism and trouble.

Shortly after Lopez’s post deletion, former French star Bartoli intervened in the Alcaraz situation, and her remarks further intensified the existing anxiety to a new level.

What did Bartoli say that shocked everyone?

“I’m very concerned but cautious. Carlos has extraordinary talent, but he needs a structured plan. Otherwise, he might end up like Bjorn Borg, retiring from tennis at 25.” Bartoli believes that if Sinner wins the Australian and French Opens in the 2026 season, it could severely impact Alcaraz after Ferrero’s departure. Losing motivation might very likely lead him down the same path as Borg.

Bjorn Borg, a legendary figure, is still deeply regretted by many for retiring at the peak age of 25; otherwise, his Grand Slam count, currently at 11, would have surely increased.

When Borg explained why he retired at 25, he emphasized that he suddenly lost motivation and hoped to recover, but ultimately couldn’t, which forced him to retire.

Bartoli’s comments have once again made Alcaraz’s fate in the 2026 season a major concern externally, with fears that her prediction might come true.

Of course, Bartoli also added a caveat: if Alcaraz suffers a heavy defeat against Sinner next year, Ferrero might be recalled immediately. With this strong mental support returning, the situation could change drastically, potentially preventing the heartbreak of an early retirement like Borg’s.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)