Seeing someone you once called your “second father” in the opponent’s box could be disconcerting for any player. The question is how much of a bother would it be for Carlos Alcaraz? If rumors are to be believed, there is a possibility of the Spaniard seeing his former coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, in Jannik Sinner‘s corner in the upcoming 2027 season. Even if the rumors proved to be true, Ferrero’s decision to coach Sinner would be an independent choice, something the former French Open champion talked about.

“The name should be more or less the same, even though, if it were Jannik, I know some people might think that,” said Ferrero in an interview with PuntoBreak. “People must respect my decision and, above all, understand that if I were to join Jannik’s team in the future, it would never be to bother Carlos.”

All the speculation came to life when Ferrero announced his intention to return to coaching in 2027 during an interview in August. The former World No. 1 was hesitant to name the player for his next coaching project, prompting the tennis community to try to ascertain the player’s identity.

Rumors linked to a possible Sinner-Ferrero link-up started when tennis journalist Gonzalo Ferreyra hinted at the possibility of it happening in one of his reports. Ferrero, too, had expressed his willingness to take up the Sinner as the Spaniard was impressed by the World No. 1’s work ethic. With Darren Cahill already extending his stay on Sinner’s team beyond the 2025 season, rumors hinted at a potential vacancy in the Italian’s team, something which could be filled by someone of Ferrero’s profile.

In his recent interview, though, Ferrero has backtracked on his 2027 comeback narrative. He stated clearly that his earlier statement was taken out of context, as he has no confirmed coaching agreement with anyone. According to the former World No.1, the ideal candidate for his next coaching assignment would be someone already at the top of their game, needing modifications to their existing skill set rather than a complete technical overhaul.

“No, not really. In the last interview I did, some things were taken out of context,” added Ferrero in the PuntoBreak. “If I didn’t say who I would come back with, it was because I had absolutely nothing. That’s how things are right now.” Now, I would choose a player who is a little more developed, already more trained and who doesn’t require being at 200% every day. I’m sure there will be opportunities, so I hope to come back strong.”

Ferrero was also not shy about expressing his opinion on the current rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz and had his say on who is better.

Juan Carlos Ferrero Has His Say on the Sincaraz Rivalry

Talking about the current rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz, Ferrero did not have a straightforward say on who was better. The veteran coach cited his emotional bond with Alcaraz when calling him the best, while also stating that hard facts had the Italian slightly ahead of his former student.

“You could give either one a chance,” said Ferrero. “They are two impressive players and it’s hard to choose. For the heart, I’d stay with Carlos, but for the numbers, we should stay with Jannik.”

While Sinner does outnumber Alcaraz in titles won, the Spaniard has two more Slams than the Italian, having won all four. In terms of consistency, Ferrero is right about Sinner’s numbers being better than Alcaraz’s. The Italian has held the No.1 ranking for 65 consecutive weeks, while Alcaraz’s total reign at the No.1 ranking spans 66 weeks.

In terms of their play, Alcaraz has a more all-round game, with the Spaniard’s touchplay being a lethal complement to his explosive groundstrokes. On the other hand, Sinner’s metronomic quality does see him get into long winning streaks, but it compromises him when he faces someone of Alcaraz’s quality.

While Ferrero has talked about numbers, one must not forget the most important of them all, which has Alcaraz having a 10-7 lead in the head-to-head against Sinner. While the tennis world has been searching for a ‘third’ to join the Sincaraz rivalry on the court, and should Ferrero make the rumored switch, it might very well become a possibility.