Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero: Inside their seven-year journey | ATP Tour

ATP Tour

Alcaraz and Ferrero: Inside their seven-year journey

The 22-year-old has won 24 tour-level titles under Ferrero

December 17, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz was 14 years old when Juan Carlos Ferrero first saw him play. Attracted by whispers of special talent from near his tennis academy in southeastern Spain, the former World No. 1 got his first glimpse of Alcaraz competing in a tournament.

That moment was the beginning of a successful partnership that officially began in 2018 and, after seven years, Alcaraz and Ferrero announced on Wednesday that it was over.

Their success was mutual. Where there was Alcaraz, there was Ferrero. They were the same throughout Alcaraz’s meteoric journey on Tour and where he is today, having just finished the season with ATP Year-End No. 1 presented in honor of PIF.

“He means a lot to me,” Alcaraz said of Ferrero last year. “Obviously, it’s a big support when I have him in the box, his support is special to me, we started when I was playing at the lower levels, he did Grade 4. [tournaments] I’m going with me.”

Under Ferrero’s leadership, Alcaraz won 24 medals, including six majors. The Spaniard won his first major crown in 2022 at the US Open and with that victory, the 19-year-old became the No.

“It’s a surprise to everyone, except me,” Ferrero said at the time. “Because I train with him every day and I know he can do it.”

Alcaraz and Ferrero’s bond has never been defined by awards alone. Their connection deepened, revealed most clearly in moments like Miami in 2022 when Alcaraz prepares for his first ATP Masters 1000 final.

Ferrero was absent from the heavy court competition because his father, Eduardo, died. But Ferrero flew to Florida for the finals. When Alcaraz saw his coach, he jumped on the couch and lied to Ferrero. Hours later, Alcaraz lifted the trophy and became the youngest champion in the tournament’s history.

“Juan Carlos is a very important person for me,” Alcaraz said after that Miami victory. “On the professional side, on the personal side, he helps me a lot on both sides, when we are together we will talk about everything in life, everything that affects our game, football like that.

“I consider him a coach and a friend too. So I can talk to him about everything.”

At Wimbledon in 2023, Ferrero’s eyes filled with tears as he embraced Alcaraz, moments after the Spaniard captured his first grass court major. Alcaraz successfully defended his All England crown in 2024 to complete a rare Roland Garros-Wimbledon double that season.

Wimbledon final.” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2025/12/17/17/16/alcaraz-ferrero-2024-wimbledon.jpg”>
^{Alcaraz and Ferrero embrace after the 2023 Wimbledon final. Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images}

Alcaraz and Ferrero’s partnership was full of success. This year, Alcaraz has captured a career-best eight tour-level titles and a season-best 71 wins, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

One of Alcaraz’s most impressive victories came in the Roland Garros final, where he came from two sets to love down and saved three match points to escape archrival Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz climbed into the box of his court trainers and shared a wild celebration with Ferrero, who lifted the 22-year-old into the air, and together they shouted, ‘Vamos!

“Yes, I think about him [was] born to play these times,” Ferrero said after Alcaraz’s five-hour, 29-minute victory.

Although the player-coach relationship involved a variety of advice, for Alcaraz and Ferrero, it was sometimes easy. When asked about his in-game connection with Ferrero last year, Alcaraz shared one word he heard a lot — and it might surprise you.

“I can tell you one of the things he tells me the most is, ‘Smile’,” revealed Alcaraz.

Undoubtedly, Alcaraz and Ferrero can look back on their seven-year relationship and smile.

Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF with Ferrero.” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2025/12/17/17/21/alcaraz-ferrero-2021.jpg”>
^{Alcaraz celebrates his title run at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF and Ferrero. Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}