Last December, when Carlos Alcaraz announced his split from long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, the tennis world saw it as a big gamble that could potentially scrub off the Spaniard from the rankings and affect his 2026 campaign. Fast forward to the Australian Open’s final, and the 22-year-old just secured his career-first Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.

Following his season’s first Grand Slam title, during the on-court interview, Alcaraz proceeded to shut down the controversy around his coaching, stating, “I’ve been working, you know, to get this trophy. I just taste this moment, you know, so much. You know, appreciation that it was a little bit rollercoaster emotionally. And we went through, let’s say, not hearing anything about what the people were saying before coming to Australia.”

Doubts were all over the tennis world. Ferrero guided Alcaraz since he was just 15 years old, and the pair achieved 24 tour-level titles, which included six Grand Slams: two French Opens, two Wimbledons, and two US Opens. Despite the “mutual” nature of the split, speculations about a potential decline in performance intensified significantly.

However, the Spaniard explained his decision, adding, “We just did the right work. Like, you know, you just, you were pushing me every day to do all the right things. So I just, I gotta say, I’m just really grateful for everyone I have in the corner right now. And then just, as I said, this trophy is always, you know, it’s always yours.”

Currently, he is coached by Samuel López. The 55-year-old isn’t someone new in his camp. In late 2024, after guiding Pablo Carrena Busta since 2015, he joined Alcaraz’s team and split duties with Ferrero. With this fierce duo in his team, Alcaraz was able to secure eight titles in 2025 that included two Grand Slams: the French Open and the US Open. And now, in the second month of the year, the 22-year-old has already achieved a major title.

Carlos Alcaraz stormed to Australian Open triumph under new coach

“I see Carlos doing well and mentally prepared. You have to accept when things go wrong and stay focused on your game, on how you like to play. The other day he was wearing a Brazil shirt: play beautifully, put on a show. If you have a good attitude and accept things, it will eventually work out for him because he’s in a moment where his tennis is flowing and he’s making the most of it,” Samuel López said right before Carlos Alcaraz’s semifinal at the Australian Open.

The results? It was tough, but the Spaniard managed to keep Alexander Zverev on hold and won the tough contest 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5. The flow that López mentioned was also seen during Alcaraz’s final against Novak Djokovic. The first set saw the Serb emerge victorious, but it was from the second set that the 22-year-old gained momentum and came back furiously, ultimately securing the match 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.

“Nobody knows how hard I’ve been working to get this trophy – I just chased this moment so much,” he said, following the match. It was a tough one, although eventually, against all odds, the Spaniard not only won the Grand Slam title, but his performance was also enough to stop critics from raising any kind of speculations.