You must first digest the news to begin the new chapter. Carlos Alcaraz will no longer have Juan Carlos Ferrero as coach, this was established by the Murcian in a message on his social networks, to which the Valencian responded shortly after, warning, … Of course, he “would have liked to continue.” But the one who remains on the Alcaraz bench, without knowing if there will be other changes in the future, is Samuel Lopezwhich will begin the season with him and his first major objective of the course: the Australian Open (January 18).
López, 55, will maintain continuity in the evolution of the Murcian, as he has immersed himself deeply in his personal and professional journey. As coach of the Ferrero academy, he followed in Alcaraz’s footsteps almost since his arrival, although out of the corner of his eye at first since he was responsible for guiding Alcaraz’s career. Pablo Carreno (and before that of Nicolás Almagro and Guillermo García López among others). But they formed a great friendship and little by little, the native of Alicante played an increasingly important role in the training of Alcaraz. So much so that he already replaced Ferrero from time to time in a tournament when he had a personal matter or needed rest.
But from January 2025, López gradually joins the team. He was the promoter of the Murcian’s change of service, and served as second when Ferrero was there, but he also accompanied Alcaraz alone to take him to the Masters 1,000 titles in Miami, Cincinnati, Queen’s, Rotterdam and Tokyo.
And the relationship became closer and closer. “I had no doubt that Samuel would fit very well into the working philosophy, because we have been together for many years and He knows perfectly well what I want for Carlos.. From the beginning he has done a great job,” Ferrero said of his bench partner a few days ago on the ATP website.
And Ferrero spoke because both received the “Coach of the Year 2025” award last Thursday, December 11, a week before the breakup. In these statements, the former world number 1 specified that in the working group everyone had their role, with that of “bad cop” for him, and that of “good cop” for López.
“The goal is for Carlos to work 100% and bring out the talent he has in him. We do it with work and discipline, but at the same time with joy and happiness. In this regard, I am perhaps a little more strict and serious in that sense. AND Samuel is more open and pleasantbut at the same time with the seriousness you need when you work.”
And this is what the man from Alicante reaffirmed: “Maybe I brought freshness, because Juan Carlos has been with him for seven years and I am new, I know the team and each of us has made the same contribution, but in a different way. Above all, we placed great emphasis on the fact that there would be joy in working“. Perhaps one more reason for Alcaraz’s breakup with Ferrero.
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