Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Melbourne with a clear target: to win one Grand Slam title still missing from his collection. This time, though, his chase comes with a notable absence. Longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero won’t be by his side, a detail that has sparked plenty of questions. With the Australian Open standing between Alcaraz and a career Grand Slam, many are now wondering how the Spaniard will navigate the challenge without Ferrero’s familiar guidance.

During the press conference, Alcaraz faced the inevitable questions surrounding the timing and nature of the split, but he remained calm and confident: “Well, I just built my team, which is the same as I’m having you know last year, except for Juan Carlos. We decided to do it, and I’m just having plenty of confidence in the team that I have right now… As I said, the practice has been really well. I’m just feeling well. So just excited about the tournament beginning with the team I have right now.”

But when pressed on what truly happened between the two, Carlos Alcaraz offered a diplomatic and polished version of events: “It’s something we just decided, you know. I think a chapter of life that is there is time that has to end. And you know we decided like this.”

However, Alcaraz’s public explanation doesn’t fully mirror Ferrero’s own remarks following the split. In fact, a source close to the former world number one told CLAY that when it came time to renew the contract in December, Ferrero waited two weeks to even receive the proposal from Alcaraz’s camp, and then had just two days to read and sign it. Naturally, speculation intensified.

But despite the swirl of conflicting narratives, Alcaraz insists that very little has changed within his day-to-day structure. When asked whether the preseason routines were affected, he dismisses any suggestion of overhaul.

He’ll be guided in Australia by Samuel Lopez this time. And while the outside world may focus on the drama, Carlos Alcaraz is channeling his energy into the monumental opportunity ahead. Winning the AO would make him the youngest man ever to complete the Career Grand Slam, surpassing Don Budge’s long-standing record. So, that’s the main goal at the moment.

Carlos Alcaraz’s probable road to the final at the 2026 AO

Tim Henman, a former world number 4 and current analyst at TNT Sports, has issued a cautious warning ahead of what many expect to be Carlos Alcaraz‘s defining AO campaign. With the tennis world eagerly anticipating a potential blockbuster final between Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Henman believes two key factors could derail that dream matchup.

One is always the injuries and physical discomfort players face so early in the season, noting that the Australian summer can be unforgiving. But the second one’s related to Alcaraz.

“Not having Ferrero on his team could affect Carlos a lot psychologically and disrupt his concentration on the court. I was very surprised that they stopped working together. Only time will tell how he recovers from this,” he said.

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More so, the serve was never the strongest part of Carlos Alcaraz’s arsenal. But since moving on from Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 22-year-old has reworked that part of his game, and the changes are starting to show.

Alcaraz has also been handed a tricky draw at the 2026 AO. He will start his campaign against the local lad, Adam Walton. The two last met at the HSBC Championship in 2025, where the Spaniard claimed a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory. Walton’s familiarity with the conditions and the crowd support could make this a more spirited opening test than the rankings might suggest.

If Alcaraz advances, he is likely to meet experienced German Yannick Hanfmann. Alcaraz has a 2-0 record over Hanfmann and will be favored to extend that. The third round is where the first twist may appear. Corentin Moutet’s unpredictable lefty game and court craft could force Alcaraz into uncomfortable exchanges. Then comes the danger zone.

Tommy Paul, one of the few players on Tour with multiple wins over Carlos Alcaraz, will be chasing a third victory in what would be their eighth encounter. Then, in the last eight, Alcaraz could face the home favorite and sixth seed, Alex de Minaur. Although the Spaniard leads their H2H 5-0, De Minaur’s improved serve and newfound aggression make this version of the Aussie a far trickier proposition than in years past.

The SF could set up a blockbuster showdown with the world number 3, Alexander Zverev, before setting up for the mega contest against Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic in the final. Alcaraz leads 10-6 against Sinner, but he trails the Serb 4-5. The Spaniard still carries the sting of last year’s defeat, when Djokovic eliminated him in the 2025 AO QF. Do you think Carlitos can overcome all these hurdles and bring home the AO title this year?