Spanish Tennis Legend Raises Concerns Over Carlos Alcaraz’s Mental Readiness After Parting Ways with Juan Carlos Ferrero

Feliciano Lopez, a four-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist, expressed his worries about Carlos Alcaraz’s recent split from long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. Lopez admitted he’s concerned about how this change might affect Alcaraz mentally in the upcoming season.

The 2026 season is set to begin soon, with players gearing up for what will be a lengthy tour. However, Alcaraz’s situation is unique as he has ended his professional relationship with Ferrero, with whom he enjoyed significant success.

Their partnership began when Alcaraz joined the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy at just 15. Impressed by Alcaraz’s talent, Ferrero took him under his wing, leading him to rapid success. Throughout their time together, Alcaraz earned 24 tour-level titles, including six Grand Slams and eight Masters 1000 tournaments.

Alcaraz has also held the World No. 1 ranking for 50 weeks and finished as year-end No. 1 twice in a row. Many expected him to continue touring with Ferrero, but the surprising announcement of their split came on December 17.

This news has sparked considerable media discussion. In an interview on El Partidazo de COPE, Lopez was asked about the split and expressed his uncertainty regarding Alcaraz’s ability to cope without his long-term coach. He shared his sadness over the situation:

I don’t know if Alcaraz is mentally prepared to face the rest of his career without Ferrero. I think it’s still a bit too soon to stop working with someone as important as Ferrero. Juan Carlos has been the most important person in his career, along with his father. I don’t know if Carlos Alcaraz will be mentally prepared to face what remains of his career, at least in the short term, without Juan Carlos Ferrero as his coach. That’s why I’m a little saddened by this split.

The split is expected to increase the pressure on Alcaraz when he returns to competition at the 2026 Australian Open, especially since he won’t compete in any warm-up tournaments prior to this major event.

Lopez Suggests Economic Issues Behind Alcaraz’s Split with Coach

Following the announcement of Carlos Alcaraz’s split with Juan Carlos Ferrero, there have been speculations regarding the reasons behind this decision, despite their strong relationship. Insider reports suggest that economic management issues may have played a role in their separation.