Carlos Alcaraz’s heartfelt farewell post announcing the end of his seven-year partnership with Juan Carlos Ferrero did little to soothe the shock the tennis world had felt. However, before they could process it further, new details have emerged, complicating the narrative even more. The questions now are, was the split truly mutual, or was it influenced by tensions within Alcaraz’s inner circle, particularly familial voices with growing sway over his career?

Ferrero’s own statement added immediate tension to the announcement. “I wish I could have continued,” he wrote on social media, a remark that made clear the separation was neither seamless nor entirely his decision. Reporting from CLAY soon clarified why.

A source close to Alcaraz’s most successful years told CLAY that there were “major disagreements between Ferrero and Alcaraz’s father about how to manage the player’s career,” shifting the focus from performance to control and long-term planning. Javier de Diego of Radio Nacional de España further reported that the relationship finally collapsed after the two sides failed to reach an agreement during negotiations for a new contract, just two days before the split became public. The breakdown did not reflect dissatisfaction with results, which is evident.

Under Ferrero, Alcaraz won six Grand Slam titles, eight Masters 1000 events, and became the youngest year-end world No. 1 in ATP history after his 2022 US Open victory at 19. Ferrero was central to Alcaraz’s technical and competitive development and remained committed to continuing in the role, as his statement suggested. Alcaraz’s response echoed that sentiment, noting that neither side “held anything back,” in his note. But several past moments help explain how the relationship reached this point.

Ferrero’s coaching style has long emphasized discipline, scheduling, and clear professional boundaries, while Alcaraz has increasingly leaned into a player-first approach centered on flexibility and enjoyment, themes outlined in his Netflix documentary A mi manera (My Way). Former Brazilian player Fernando Meligeni, speaking to CLAY, described the conflict as one of commitment and authority rather than lifestyle alone, pointing to decisions about schedules, workload, and the extent of family involvement. In his assessment, the balance ultimately shifted toward Alcaraz’s inner circle.

That tension surfaced publicly in early 2023 when Ferrero chose not to accompany Alcaraz on the South American tour, delegating responsibilities to Antonio Martínez Cascales. According to CLAY, the decision led to a serious argument with Alcaraz’s father. Although Alcaraz won the title in Buenos Aires and reached the final in Rio, the disagreement left a lasting strain. Ferrero returned to Buenos Aires the following year, but by then the working relationship had already changed.

Ferrero addressed those challenges directly in a later interview with CLAY, stressing the importance of understanding professionalism off the court and acknowledging how difficult that balance can be for young stars surrounded by constant attention. As that dynamic evolved, Samuel López gradually assumed a larger role, accompanying Alcaraz to more tournaments and overseeing technical adjustments, most notably an improved service motion.

By the time contract talks reopened, Ferrero’s departure had become increasingly likely. Alcaraz was training less frequently at Ferrero’s Villena academy and spending more time at the Carlos Alcaraz Tennis Academy in El Palmar, a project closely tied to his family. When negotiations failed, the partnership formally ended, closing a chapter that produced historic success but was ultimately undone by unresolved disagreements over structure, authority, and the player’s future direction.

With the reasons behind the split coming into sharper focus,

Alcaraz‘s decision to part ways with his longtime coach continues to ripple through the tennis world. And now two Grand Slam greats have weighed in on the same.

Tennis stars react to Carlos Alcaraz’s heartfelt post about his longtime coach

Alcaraz announced his split with Ferrero through a social media post, which had a long message attached to it. “It is very difficult for me to write this post… After more than seven years together, Juanki and I have decided to end our time together as coach and player… You’ve helped me grow as an athlete, but above all, as a person. And something I value immensely: I’ve enjoyed the process. That’s what I’ll cherish, the journey we’ve shared.”

Seeing this post, 5x Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova dropped an emoji (“🥹”), while the 3x Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka commented, “What a team 👏🏻❤️🙏🏻.”

Next, we need to mention what Kikor Navarro, the first coach of Alcaraz, had to say about the split. Well, in an interview with RNE Deportes, he claimed that Alcaraz didn’t make the decision.

“It was more from the environment than from the player; Carlitos is very protective of his coaches. He was with me, and I know he was with Juan Carlos, but there comes a moment when, due to reasons not related to him or sports, they have made this decision. Juan Carlos has done a spectacular job; I worked with him for two years, and there is little to blame him for. The people who made the decision, which is not Carlitos, will have their reasons, which I don’t know now.”

Having said that, he also backed Samuel Lopez as his new head coach, but also mentioned that Carlos Alcaraz may need a second person with a higher profile to manage the long season. What are your thoughts on this bold decision, and do you think this move will impact Alcaraz’s performance at the start of the 2026 season?