Right now, the ATP Tour rolls on at the Shanghai Masters. Missing from the action is world no.1 Carlos Alcaraz, who’s resting his ankle after a scare at the Japan Open. But while he’s off the court, his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, grabbed the headlines. The former world no.1, who began coaching Alcaraz in 2019, found himself at the center of wild health rumors. But he’s here to shut them down.

While Alcaraz rests, Ferrero was last seen at a Challenger event in Villena, held at his own academy. Then, suddenly, rumors spread online that Ferrero was battling cancer, without any credible evidence. The 45-year-old quickly set the record straight on social media. “During these last days there have been many fake news and rumors about my health, saying that I’m suffering from cancer. I want to be clear: This is completely fake,” he wrote.

If you didn’t know, Ferrero was one of Spain’s golden names in tennis. He won 16 ATP titles, including the 2003 French Open, and held the World No.1 ranking for eight weeks that year. Since hanging up his racket, he’s widely praised for guiding Alcaraz to the top of the game and shaping one of tennis’ brightest stars. But naturally, the cancer rumors didn’t sit right with him.

“Moreover than deny it, I would like to express my concern on using such a sensible topics to generate clicks and views. Cancer is a serious disease that has marked my family and many others. This topic deserves maximum respect. I appreciate the supportive messages but, above all, I would like to request responsibility to those who spread this kind of information without checking its veracity,” he explained.

Lately, tennis has been swirling with rumors. Just days ago, a report claimed Stefanos Tsitsipas underwent back surgery and would miss months of play. The Greek star quickly denied it but still pulled out of Shanghai because of injury concerns. But in Ferrero’s case, the rumor hit harder – and he wasn’t having it.

Originally, Ferrero planned to join Alcaraz for the Shanghai Masters. But those plans derailed the moment his star player pulled out. Alcaraz injured his ankle in his opening match at the Japan Open. Even so, he fought through the pain and went on to win the title in a gritty finish. Still, the injury forced him to skip Shanghai. “I’m very disappointed to announce that I won’t be able to play the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year,” Alcaraz said. Disappointed to see their top man miss the tournament, it put the fans in a tough spot.

For now, Carlos is sitting out until the next big event – the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. Still, even from the sidelines, he’s in the headlines again. This time, he broke a record once held by his coach, which gathered eyeballs.

Carlos Alcaraz matches his coach’s record after Japan win

Alcaraz closed out September in style, lifting his 24th ATP Tour trophy with a straight-sets win over Taylor Fritz at the Japan Open. The Tuesday final was all business for the Spaniard, who sealed a 6-4, 6-4 victory to claim the title for the first time. It also capped off his eighth tournament win of 2025, a number that screams hard work and echoes perfect chemistry with his team.

At just 22, Alcaraz is already outshining the career haul of his own coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. And it’s not just about titles; he’s ticking off milestones Ferrero once cherished. Back in 2003, Ferrero enjoyed the season of his life, bagging Monte-Carlo and Valencia, then triumphing at his lone Grand Slam in Paris. By September 8 that year, he was world number one after a run to the US Open final.

Ferrero’s standout stat from that dream season? A whopping 67 singles wins, a number that stood untouched for over two decades. Fast forward to 2025, and Carlos Alcaraz has matched it shot for shot. His 67 singles victories include one grabbed during the Laver Cup, proof of an incredible year that’s not over yet. The only question now: what’s next?

After pulling out of the Shanghai Masters to rest his left ankle, Alcaraz’s fans are waiting to see if he’ll hit the court at the flashy Six Kings Slam from October 15–18. With Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Jannik Sinner on the list and a jaw-dropping $6 million prize up for grabs, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Carlos Alcaraz and Ferrero return to Riyadh to take it all away? Tell us your take in the comments section.