Carlos Alcaraz has enjoyed a dream start to the 2026 season, winning two titles and cementing his status as the world’s best male player.
Alcaraz began the season by defeating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, becoming the youngest player in history to complete the ‘Career Grand Slam’ in men’s singles events.
The Spaniard, who was called a ‘legend’ by Rafael Nadal, then travelled to Doha, where he won a second consecutive title at the Qatar Open.
By defeating Arthur Fils in the Qatar final, Alcaraz also matched an impressive Rafael Nadal feat.
After such a dominant start to the year, Alcaraz has well and truly dismissed a narrative that had been circling in the Spaniard’s camp from the start of the season.
Carlos Alcaraz has dispelled any notion that he would be worse off without Juan Carlos Ferrero
Juan Carlos Ferrero is an individual who has had an extremely strong influence on the trajectory of Carlos Alcaraz’s career so far.
Ferrero began working with Alcaraz when the Spaniard was only 15, nurturing and guiding the prodigy to six Grand Slam titles and the world number one ranking.
There can be no doubt that Ferrero is a fantastic coach, as evidenced by his work with Alcaraz.
However, Alcaraz has now proven that his talent is a far more influential factor in his tennis career than the guidance of a coach.
Many tennis fans may have expected Alcaraz’s form to dip following his split from a coach whom Alcaraz had described as a ‘second father.’
However, if anything, Alcaraz has improved following his split with the Spanish coach.
Alcaraz has begun 2026 on a 12-match winning streak: his best-ever start to a season. Moreover, few would bet against that streak continuing in Indian Wells, a tournament he has won twice before.
Carlos Alcaraz’s start to 2026
| Tournament | Opponent | Score |
| Australian Open | Adam Walton | 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 |
| Yannick Hanfmann | 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 | |
| Corentin Moutet | 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 | |
| Tommy Paul | 7-6, 6-4, 7-5 | |
| Alex de Minaur | 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 | |
| Alexander Zverev | 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5 | |
| Novak Djokovic | 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 | |
| Qatar Open | Arthur Rinderknech | 6-4, 7-6 |
| Valentin Royer | 6-2, 7-5 | |
| Karen Khachanov | 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 | |
| Andrey Rublev | 7-6, 6-4 | |
| Arthur Fils | 6-2, 6-1 |
Any narrative concerning a potential dip in form after the split with Ferrero has been completely dispelled after Alcaraz’s start to the year.
And Alcaraz will likely continue to dispel this notion throughout the ‘sunshine swing’: a period of the calendar in which he has been very successful in the past.
Carlos Alcaraz on ‘second father’ Juan Carlos Ferrero
After winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open, Alcaraz revealed the deep respect and admiration he had for his longtime coach.
As per Sportskeeda, Alcaraz said: “Thanks to him I’m lifting this trophy today. If I [didn’t have] Juan Carlos Ferrero in the box, Juan Carlos [as] my coach, it wouldn’t be possible for me.
“Juan Carlos is my second father. He could train a lot of top players but he decides to be with me.”
Four years later, the pair split. In December 2025, Alcaraz announced the split on his Instagram account.
He said: “It is very difficult for me to write this post.
“After over seven years together, Juanki and I have decided to end our time together as coach and player. Thank you for making my childhood dreams a reality.
“We started on this road when I was just a boy and for all this time you have been with me on an incredible journey, on and off the court. I have enjoyed every step with you so much.
“We have reached the top, and I think that if our sporting paths have to separate it should be from there, from the place we always worked for and aspired to reach. I have so many memories that it would be unfair to choose just one. You made me grow as an athlete, but more importantly as a person.
“The thing I value the most is that I enjoyed the process. I will never forget the journey we went on together.
“Now is a time of change for both of us, new adventures, new projects. But I am sure that we will approach them in the correct way, giving our best, as we always have.
“Always moving forward. With all my heart, I wish you the best for what is to come. I am happy I can say we always gave our all, that we gave each other everything.”