It looked perfect — the ideal partnership between a player coming off what will surely be remembered as one of the single best seasons of his career, and a coach who was much more than that. A mentor, a father figure, a guiding voice who understood that a multi-decade collaboration was unrealistic due to family commitments and travel demands, yet never hinted that he would abandon his protege on the back of a year-end No. 1 finish.
But then the bombshell dropped: “Thank you for everything, Juanki!”
No inclination, no reports, no tension. And while “I wish I could have continued” was the response, a seven-year partnership that elevated both men to the very top of the sport, professionally and financially, was over. So how does the perfect pair, just four weeks removed from a historic season, suddenly break up via a social-media post?
Old Tensions Surface After the Split
Now that it has happened, every potential strain between Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero is being magnified and re-examined. According to reports, the first real crack didn’t even occur between coach and player — and it dates back more than two years.
Alcaraz began the 2023 season unable to play the Australian Open due to injury, with his return scheduled for the South American Golden Clay swing, a slot Ferrero typically skips. When Ferrero skipped that period during Alcaraz’s comeback from his first multi-month injury layoff, it reportedly did not sit well with some members of the Alcaraz camp, particularly his father, who believed Ferrero should have been present for his son’s return. While nothing was ever made public regarding any tension between father and coach, it now seems possible that this moment raised early concerns.
Even though the Golden Swing was successful for the Spaniard, it planted the seeds for this week’s outcome. The pair would go on to win five more Major titles in just eleven appearances, a staggering 45% strike-rate, yet things were never quite the same.
Philosophical Differences
Public comments often hinted at differing philosophies. Ferrero, the disciplinarian, demanded structure, punctuality, and total commitment, full focus on training and excellence. Alcaraz, like his game itself, was freer and more unpredictable.
We saw that clearly in his Netflix documentary, “My Way,” which highlighted his flexible approach to life, his desire to explore beyond tennis, to hang out, and to succeed on his own terms — something he has repeatedly done.
Those minor disagreements, which were not so minor in hindsight, built up over time. Concerns over off-court trips to Ibiza became talking points. The real flashpoint arrived after Alcaraz’s early exit at the 2024 US Open, when he travelled to a Formula 1 event — despite Ferrero being against it. The documentary framed Ferrero as the head voice of the tennis project, but Alcaraz made it clear that Ferrero was not the head voice in his life.
The Final Straw: Contract and Control
A mental burnout on the court followed, leading to a slow start to this season. And who knows — without that blistering run from Monte-Carlo to Tokyo, the breakup might have happened even sooner. Despite disagreements, the long trips for Alcaraz between home in Murcia and Ferrero’s academy in Villena, and opposing ideologies on how to approach a tennis career, the pair still delivered a spectacular 2025 season.
Reports suggest a financial issue became the breaking point, while others claim that although finances played a role, certain “unacceptable terms” in a 48-hour sign-it-or-leave-it contract from Alcaraz ultimately broke the camel’s back. But one thing seems likely: if both sides truly wanted to continue, an agreement would have been reached. The two turned each other into global forces. But now the players’ camp withdrew its support. This was not a mutual break-up. Ferrero wanted to stay. Alcaraz chose to walk away.
Yes — they will remain cordial if paths cross. But this was a necessary separation for Alcaraz, something he felt had to happen sooner rather than later. And, just as he promised the world months ago in his documentary, he did it his way.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images