Carlos Alcaraz heads into the 2026 season in uncharted waters without his longtime. When the news broke on December 17 that the Spaniard and Juan Carlos Ferrero were parting ways after a highly successful run together, rumors quickly swirled that Alcaraz might already be eyeing a new presence in his camp. One old report even resurfaced, suggesting Andy Murray could become part of the team. Could that really be true?

Alcaraz’s coaching setup took another twist when Clay Tenis revisited a revealing story first published by Punto de Break. According to their account, “What happened in 2025 was going to happen in 2024 (…) Alcaraz’s entourage wanted to fire Ferrero and bring in a new coach. They wanted Andy Murray.”

The claim added fresh intrigue to the split and set fans buzzing about what might have been. Ferrero’s camp responded sharply, saying, “We have no idea about that, in any case, it’s something we shouldn’t explain.”

At the moment, there’s still no official word on who will take over as Alcaraz’s new coach, or even if anyone will. What’s known is that Samuel López will lead the team heading into 2026. The fresh partnership is expected to debut at the Australian Open, as Carlos has decided to skip any warm-up tournaments before the first Grand Slam of the year.

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz finds himself firmly in the spotlight over his split with Ferrero. The move has stirred plenty of debate, with Rafael Nadal’s uncle, Toni Nadal, among those questioning how it unfolded. He found the situation hard to grasp and doubted such a major change could happen without Alcaraz’s full consent.

What started as a routine annual contract renewal turned unexpectedly tense. Negotiations stretched beyond the usual timeline, and when an offer finally arrived, it came two weeks late, along with a 48-hour deadline that Ferrero reportedly deemed “unacceptable.”

“I understand that nothing is done without Carlos’ approval, of course,” Uncle Toni said after the story broke. “It’s a bit strange after a seven-year relationship to be rushed into making such decisions.”

Many wondered who would step in as the six-time Grand Slam champion’s new head coach. The guesses came fast. Some pointed to Uncle Toni, others to Goran Ivanisevic or Carlos Moya. A few even dared to dream of the 22-year-old’s idol, Rafael Nadal. But the King of Clay has already given his verdict on that.

Could Rafa coach Carlos Alcaraz?

The idea of Rafael Nadal coaching Alcaraz sounded almost too good to be true.  Would it be exciting? The 22-time Grand Slam champion mentoring the young Spaniard who grew up idolizing him. They even shared the court at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a moment that felt like a passing of the torch. With Nadal a year into retirement, the timing seemed perfect for him to step back onto the tour in a guiding role. But as it turns out, that’s not where his heart lies.

“I have always had the utmost respect for what may happen in the future, because what one feels today is not what one will feel in a while,” Nadal told Spanish outlet AS. “Life changes, and even more so when you have small children: you see life in a certain way, a few years go by, and it changes.”

He later opened up further about why he isn’t ready to commit to a full-time role just yet.

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“To travel continuously? I don’t see it. Being a coach would imply that, and right now it doesn’t fit with my life. To be Davis Cup captain one day? Why not? I could have fun… or not. I have just retired; it is very premature to think about it. I respect the vital and adaptation processes. Right now, it is not appropriate to think about that,” Nadal said.

So, for now, fans will have to wait to see if Nadal ever trades his racket for a coaching clipboard. Meanwhile, the 2026 season is already rolling, and Alcaraz has his sights set squarely on Melbourne. The mission is clear: win the Australian Open and complete the Career Slam.

But it won’t be easy. Standing in his way is rival Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending champion chasing a historic three-peat. The stage is set, and all eyes are on Carlos. Can he finally conquer Melbourne?