Carlos Alcaraz stunned the tennis world in December by splitting with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Under Ferrero’s tutelage, Alcaraz won six Grand Slam titles and achieved the status of world number one.
However, to the shock of many, their coaching relationship did not last, despite working together for seven years.
What do you make of Carlos Alcaraz’s decision to part ways with Juan Carlos Ferrero?
Alcaraz is now being coached solely by Samuel Lopez, whom he employed in late 2024. Under Lopez’s tutelage, Alcaraz has started the 2026 season on a 12-match winning streak, winning the Australian Open and Qatar Open.
As for Ferrero, he has expressed a desire to meet with Alcaraz once again, while in conversation with Spanish journalist Josef Pedrerol.
Juan Carlos Ferrero says he wants to meet Carlos Alcaraz
Ferrero’s blockbuster interview with Pedrerol on El Cafelito is set to air on Thursday. However, excerpts from the interview have already begun to emerge in Spanish media.
As per Spanish television broadcaster La Sexta, Ferrero has explained why he unfollowed Alcaraz on Instagram, before expressing a desire to meet with his former employer once again.
“I don’t follow him because I need a little time, to separate,” Ferrero said.
“That at the same time if I see Instagram it comes out everywhere. In the end I haven’t achieved anything.
“You follow tennis and tournament accounts and you get the same. I didn’t do it out of spite.
“I want to see him and give him a hug. Normalise everything that has happened, I think there is a pending talk. I would like to.”
Ferrero is yet to take another coaching job on the ATP or WTA Tour, despite receiving offers.
It remains to be seen whether the Spaniard will return to the professional coaching sphere. However, if he does, whoever hires the former French Open champion will gain the experience and expertise of one of the finest coaching minds around.
Do you believe Carlos Alcaraz is already the greatest tennis player of all time?
Josef Pedrerol’s full interview with Juan Carlos Ferrero is set to air at 3:30 pm Central European Standard Time.
How Carlos Alcaraz’s Indian Wells resume compares to Juan Carlos Ferrero’s
Juan Carlos Ferrero enjoyed little success in Indian Wells during his career, failing to make it past the fourth round in nine attempts.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, already has two Indian Wells titles to his name having captured the Californian crown in 2023 and 2024.
Alcaraz also has two semi-final appearances to his name, and he is the hot favourite heading into the 2026 event.
Indian Wells is a tournament that suits Alcaraz’s game. The tournament is widely recognised as having the slowest hard courts on the Tour, and these courts allow for Alcaraz to utilise his quick change of direction and rapid straight-line speed.
The Spaniard will head into the tournament as the top seed, and as a result, he has received a bye through to the second round.
In the second round, Alcaraz will play Thiago Atmane or Grigor Dimitrov.
