Ferrero on parting ways with Alcaraz: If we had sat down to talk, there might have been a chance to reconcile

One week after current world No.1 Alcaraz and coach Juan Carlos Ferrero announced the end of their partnership, Ferrero spoke candidly about the split in an interview with Spain's Marca at his tennis academy in Villena, revealing that the breakdown in contract negotiations was the decisive factor.

"Originally, it looked like this relationship would carry on," Ferrero said. "At the end of the year, it was necessary to revisit some aspects of the contract, just like with any new agreement. Looking ahead to next year, we couldn't reach an understanding on certain issues... If we had sat down to discuss, maybe there was room to save it, but in the end, we never did, and the decision was made to part ways."

Ferrero (photo: Li Jianyi)

Ferrero quickly dismissed rumors about salary disputes, stating that "financial issues were not among the reasons for the split," responding to earlier Spanish media reports claiming he demanded a significant pay raise to remain with Alcaraz's team.

Additionally, Ferrero denied any conflicts regarding training facilities. Alcaraz grew up training at the Carlos Alcaraz Academy run by his family in Murcia for over 30 years, while Ferrero operates his own academy in Villena — where Alcaraz also trained extensively. "We never saw each other as competitors," Ferrero explained. "We gradually understood that given the nature of the tour, Carlos wanted to spend more time at home. We provide the academy courts for him to train when necessary, but it was never a mandatory requirement, never."

As a former world No.1 in men's tennis, Ferrero won the French Open in 2003 and began coaching Alcaraz when he was just 15. During their seven seasons together, Alcaraz claimed 24 ATP Tour titles, including six Grand Slams, becoming the youngest male world No.1 in the Open Era. Ferrero was honored as ATP Coach of the Year twice, in 2022 and 2025.

Ferrero with Alcaraz (photo: Visual China)

In his initial social media statement announcing the split, Ferrero expressed hope that "this collaboration could have continued," a sentiment he reiterated in the Marca interview. When asked about his relationship with Alcaraz, Ferrero said: "Maybe we both need time to fully process this separation; it’s not easy. I am very hurt right now. It’s hard for such a relationship to end overnight... I gave everything, fully dedicating myself to this project. I believe I invested a lot of time, passion, and effort. Finding a team and people who allow me to do that is important, and I am very grateful for that."

Although Ferrero did not rule out the possibility of reuniting in the future, he made it clear that he plans to take a break before taking on any new coaching roles. Alcaraz has yet to publicly comment on the matter and is currently preparing for the new season, with the upcoming Australian Open being the only Grand Slam tournament he has yet to conquer.

(Written and edited by Wang Fei)