Madrid, May 20, 2025 – in an unexpected turn that has shaken the foundations of world tennis, Carlos Alcaraz, one of the brightest stars of the ATP circuit, has officially announced his separation from his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, after he was accused of violating the confidential terms of the billionaire contract that both kept until the end of the 2025 season.
The news, which was communicated through a brief but overwhelming press release from the Alcaraz team, took both the press and tennis fans by surprise, who always saw in the relationship between the young Murcian and Ferrero a solid, almost paternal alliance.
According to sources close to the Spanish Tennis Federation, the contract signed between Alcaraz and its technical team – with Ferrero as a central figure – amounted to an amazing figure of 185 million dollars. This figure included not only sports training and planning services, but also image agreements, brand strategy and exclusivity rights in the competitive environment.
However, in recent weeks, rumors on foreign financial movements related to one of the main sponsors of the technical team began to circulate. Apparently, Ferrero would have participated in parallel negotiations with a rival sports brand, which would constitute a direct violation of the confidentiality and exclusivity clauses of the contract.
“Carlos Alcaraz’s team confirms the immediate termination of the work agreement with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, after an exhaustive analysis of actions that compromise the ethical and contractual terms of the agreement in force until 2025. Carlos wishes to thank Juan Carlos for his contribution to his development and achievements, but considers that the time has come to take separate paths,” reads the statement.
Social networks exploded in a matter of minutes. The hashtags #alcarazferrero, #rupturenistics and #scandal185millones became a global tendency. Some fans could not believe the news, while others wondered if this will affect Carlos’s performance in the imminent tour of Grand Slams.
Carlos Alcaraz, who has always been reserved for his private and professional life, broke the silence at an impromptu conference at his academy in Villena. Visibly affected, he said:
“Juan Carlos has been more than a coach, has been a mentor. But in life you have to make difficult decisions. I do not tolerate the lack of integrity, come from whoever comes.”
What few expected is that, according to sources close to the tennis player, Carlos would have discovered the irregularities of Ferrero by accident, upon receiving a wrong email in which they talked about “confidential negotiations with the competition.”
The question that all followers are asked is now: Who will take the reins of Alcaraz training? Some names are already playing in the ATP Tour halls. Among them, figures such as Toni Nadal, Magnus Norman and even veteran Ivan Lendl are mentioned, although for now everything remains at all secret.
Unexpectedly, some journalists speculate that Carlos could take time to train on his own or with a rotating team, prioritizing his independence and total control of his environment.
Despite the scandal, experts agree that Carlos Alcaraz has maturity and talent to get ahead. At 22, he has demonstrated a resilience and approach that few players have. He has already conquered several Grand Slam titles and has reached the number one in the world.
“This may be the hardest blow of his career outside the track, but he can also mark the beginning of a stronger version of Carlos, more determined, more independent,” said sports analyst Mario Sánchez.
What seemed an indestructible relationship between student and teacher has ended in the midst of a media storm. Fans still digest the news, and the world of tennis observes carefully the next steps of one of their greatest icons.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz continues to train intensely, with his eyes on Roland Garros. “The track is my shelter. That’s where I start again,” he said when closing the conference.
And so, a new chapter begins in the history of one of the most exciting athletes of the 21st century.