Alcaraz is at risk of losing his mentor to Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz faces numerous challenges as he approaches the 2026 season.

Earlier this month, Carlos Alcaraz shocked many when he confirmed his split from Juan Carlos Ferrero - the coach who had been by his side for nearly 8 years and played a crucial role in guiding the Spanish player to the top with 6 Grand Slam titles. This decision came shortly after Ferrero was honored by the ATP as Coach of the Year, despite sharing coaching duties with Samuel Lopez during the 2025 season.

Speculation has surrounded the split. Ferrero admitted he wished he could have continued and mentioned that some contractual issues needed review at the end of the year. However, the former Roland Garros champion emphasized that finances were not the cause.

Although acknowledging the emotional weight of the separation, the former world No. 1 from Spain revealed he has received several offers to return to coaching. Most notably, there is the possibility of joining the team of Jannik Sinner - currently the world No. 2 and also Alcaraz’s biggest rival in the new era.

In an interview with Marca, Juan Carlos Ferrero shared: "Both of us need time to move on. Right now, I’m still very heartbroken. I think I need two or three months to calm down. After that, if other opportunities arise, I will consider them." When directly asked about the prospect of joining Sinner’s team, the 45-year-old coach candidly said: "That’s something I need to think about. They are excellent players, but now is not the time to say yes or no."

Meanwhile, Carlitos has yet to announce Ferrero’s replacement and will most likely continue working with Samuel Lopez as he prepares for the Australian Open - the Grand Slam where he has never advanced past the quarterfinals.