However, according to Angel Garcia Muniz of El Partidazo de COPE, Lopez will become Alcaraz’s head coach for the 2026 season after the six-time Grand Slam champion decided not to hire a new mentor.
“More than 5 coaches have offered to train @carlosalcaraz , but the final decision is that Samuel Lopez be his main coach for this season. I’m really glad, because he’s a great guy and a great coach. The rest of the team, except for Ferrero, is also staying on,” he tweeted.
Lopez previously worked at the Ferrero Tennis Academy, and Alcaraz is continuing his pre-season training at Ferrero’s base. Lopez also coached Ferrero when the 45-year-old was an active tennis player, and has worked with Pablo Carreno Busta and Nicolas Almagro.
The Spanish tennis coach officially joined Alcaraz’s team at the end of last year, but had accompanied the world No. 1 to several tournaments in the past when Ferrero was unavailable.
Lopez was with Alcaraz for his title wins in Rotterdam, Monte Carlo, Queen’s, Cincinnati and Tokyo this year, and also joined Ferrero in the box at other tournaments.
Ferrero and Lopez also won the ATP Coach of the Year Award last week, as voted on by fellow coaches. Ferrero also won in 2022 and became the first coach to receive the honour multiple times since the award’s inception in 2016.
Announcing their split on Wednesday, Ferrero – himself a former world No. 1 and Grand Slam champion – hinted that the decision was not his, as he shared his wish to remain in Alcaraz’s camp. “I wish I could have continued. I am convinced that good memories and good people always find a way to cross paths again,” he wrote.
Alcaraz is expected to start training at his own family academy in Mucia more often, instead of Ferrero’s facility in Villena.