Alcaraz and Ferrero’s Seven-Year Bond Ends
A chance glimpse of a 14-year-old prodigy in Spain sparked a partnership that lifted Carlos Alcaraz to the top of tennis. Now, after triumphs and tears, Juan Carlos Ferrero steps away, leaving a legacy of resilience and joy.
In the warm glow of a southeast Spain tournament, Juan Carlos Ferrero first spotted 14-year-old Carlos Alcaraz ripping forehands with raw power. Whispers of a nearby talent had drawn the former World No. 1 from his academy, igniting a connection that officially started in 2018. Over seven years, their collaboration drove Alcaraz to 24 tour-level titles, six majors, and ATP Year-End No. 1 honors in 2025, blending tactical precision with unshakeable trust.
Alcaraz’s rise demanded more than skill—it required mental armor against the Tour’s grind. Ferrero’s steady presence in the box became a beacon during grueling swings from clay to grass. Their early days, traveling to Grade 4 events, built a foundation where strategy met personal growth.
“He means a lot to me,” Alcaraz said of Ferrero last year. “Obviously it’s a great support when I have him in the box. His support is really special to me. We started when I was playing in juniors, he did Grade 4 [tournaments] travelling with me.”
First glimpses forge instinctive trust
Ferrero saw Alcaraz’s natural feel for the ball right away, a blend of heavy topspin and quick footwork that hinted at versatility. As they transitioned to the pro circuit, sessions focused on mental routines to absorb early losses in lower events. Shared travels turned raw potential into reliable execution across surfaces, setting the stage for breakthroughs.
By 2022, Alcaraz’s US Open win at age 19 crowned him the youngest World No. 1 ever. Ferrero, who trained with him daily, anticipated the surge. Their work emphasized inside-out forehands to exploit hard-court angles, turning anticipation into dominance.
“It’s a surprise to everyone, except to me,” Ferrero said at the time. “Because I train with him every day and I know what he can do.”
Personal ties weather professional storms
Beyond the court, their bond revealed itself in quiet vulnerabilities. In Miami 2022, ahead of Alcaraz’s first ATP Masters 1000 final, Ferrero arrived despite grieving his father Eduardo’s passing. When Alcaraz saw him, he leaped off the couch and gave Ferrero a warm embrace, a gesture that fused emotion with focus.
Hours later, Alcaraz lifted the trophy as the tournament’s youngest champion, his slice serves and crosscourt winners flowing effortlessly. That moment eased the week’s tension, highlighting how their talks ranged from one–two patterns to life’s rhythms, including football chats that kept perspectives broad.
“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 in our sport, about football, as well. I consider him a coach and a friend as well. So I can talk to him about everything.”
At Wimbledon 2023, Ferrero’s eyes welled with tears during their embrace after Alcaraz’s first grass major, a raw peak of shared investment. The Spaniard defended the title in 2024, completing the Roland Garros–Wimbledon double with net rushes and down-the-line passes that adapted to each surface’s tempo.
Alcaraz and Ferrero embrace after the 2023 Wimbledon final. Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Pressure turns to triumphant roars
In 2025, Alcaraz notched eight titles and 71 match wins, a season-leading tally from the ATP Win/Loss Index. Their tactical edge shone in the Roland Garros final, where he trailed Jannik Sinner two sets to love but saved three championship points over five hours and 29 minutes. Clutch inside-out lobs and underspin slices flipped the script on clay’s forgiving bounce, pulling his rival deep.
Alcaraz scrambled into the coaches’ box for a raw celebration, Ferrero hoisting the 22-year-old as they roared “Vamos!” in unison. Preparation had targeted Sinner’s flat shots with quick redirects, turning defense into offense amid the crowd’s swelling energy.
“Of course I think he [was] born to play these kinds of moments,” Ferrero said after Alcaraz’s epic five-hour, 29-minute triumph.
Mid-match signals kept it simple amid complexity. Last year, Alcaraz shared the one word he hears the most from Ferrero—and it may surprise you. “I can tell you one of the things he tells me most is, ‘Smile’,” Alcaraz revealed, a cue that pierced tension and restored rhythm in heated rallies.
Alcaraz celebrates his title run at the 2021 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF with Ferrero. Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour
As their partnership wraps in December 2025, Alcaraz carries forward a toolkit of composure and joy, ready to navigate new rivalries with the same fire that defined their era.
