Carlos Alcaraz’s wildly-successful, seven-year partnership with Juan Carlos Ferrero came to an end on Wednesday as the 22-year-old announced their shock split. The Spanish superstar won 24 titles – including six Majors – and reached No. 1 in the world under Ferrero’s tutelage. But in an emotional statement, Alcaraz wrote: “We have managed to reach the top, and I feel that, if our sports paths had to separate, it had to be from up there.”
Ferrero started working with Alcaraz when the Spaniard was only 15 years old, and was keen to “build” a team around the teenager, helping him become one of the world’s best players. Alcaraz enjoyed his breakthrough a few years later, aged 18, at the Miami Open.
Already a rising star on everyone’s radar, Alcaraz came into the Miami Open off the back of reaching his first Masters 1000 semi-final in Indian Wells, where he lost to Rafael Nadal. And he picked up exactly where he left off, storming into the final with big wins over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Hubert Hurkacz.
It was the biggest final of his career at that point, but Ferrero had not made the trip to Miami with Alcaraz and the team, as his father had just passed away. During his campaign, Alcaraz paid tribute to them with several messages on the camera.
“For you Juanki. This win is yours,” Alcaraz wrote after one win, also penning “Juanki and Eduardo” on the lens after another match.
Ahead of the championship match against Casper Ruud, who himself had never reached a Masters final until the 2022 Miami Open, Ferrero decided to surprise his charge and jetted to America hours before Alcaraz took to the court.
In emotional scenes, the pair were reunited in Alcaraz’s hotel room. Another team member filmed the touching moment, which saw Ferrero burst into his protege’s hotel room while Alcaraz was sitting quietly with friends and family. They embraced before heading to the grounds for the final.
Ferrero had been in close contact with the team throughout the week, and watched on from Alcaraz’s box as the then-18-year-old lifted his maiden Masters 1000 title, beating Ruud 7-5 6-4.
Their goal had been to finish the year inside the world’s top 15, but they surpassed all expectations. Alcaraz jumped to No. 11 in the world following his Miami triumph and then made his top-10 debut after winning the Barcelona Open. He continued his winning run, lifting another Masters title in Madrid.
A few months later, aged 19, Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open, again beating Ruud in the final. He became the youngest world No. 1 in ATP history as a result. Now 22 years old, Alcaraz has already won six Grand Slam titles and spent 50 weeks and counting at the top of the rankings.