A Parting of Ways at the Peak
The Spanish tennis community confirmed on December 19, 2025, that current world No. 1 tennis player Carlos Alcaraz and his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero have officially ended their successful seven-year partnership. After molding Alcaraz from a promising young talent into a world champion, Ferrero has decided to shift his professional focus back to the tennis academy he has long been involved in building. Alcaraz’s coaching duties will now be taken over by Samuel López from Alicante.
The Return of a Former World Champion
Juan Carlos Ferrero is a tennis legend in his own right. The star player, born in Ontinyent, held the world No. 1 ranking for eight weeks during his career and won the Roland-Garros (French Open) title. It was his keen eye that spotted the immense potential in a 15-year-old Alcaraz. Under Ferrero’s dedicated guidance, the then-slender teenager underwent a physical and technical transformation, step by step, ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
From Two Courts to a “Tennis Silicon Valley”
The Ferrero Tennis Academy, which Ferrero will now focus on managing, is one of the world’s top youth training centers. Founded in 1990 by Antonio Martínez Cascales, the academy is located in Villena. Over its more than 35-year history, the academy has grown from just two courts into a massive 120,000-square-meter sports complex with 25 all-weather courts, earning it the nickname “the Silicon Valley of tennis” in the industry.
An International Cradle for Young Talent
Today, the Ferrero Tennis Academy has become a highly international community. Throughout the year, 60 young players aged 13 to 18 receive full-time, residential training. The number of students can reach 150 per week during the summer peak and remains between 40 and 50 even in winter. These future tennis stars come from all over the world; in addition to local Spanish players, there are many students from China, the United States, Australia, Thailand, and other European countries. To ensure the holistic development of its players, the academy also has an affiliated international school that provides academic education.
A New Focus on Family and Business
Beyond his professional plans, returning to his family was also a significant factor in Ferrero’s decision. He wishes to spend more time at his home, located within the academy grounds, with his wife Eva Alonso and their three children. Previously, traveling the world with Alcaraz on the tour meant sacrificing a great deal of family time. Additionally, Ferrero owns a five-star hotel in Bocairent. In the future, he will be based in Villena, continuing his search for and cultivation of the next superstar within his tennis kingdom.
