Alcaraz-Ferrero Split: Bartoli Reveals More Than Money Involved

The timing raises “big questions and concerns,” said Bartoli: “Nobody decides, as they did, to change coaches on December 17th. This means that both parties were sure that they would start the 2026 season together.”

If a coach and a player were to end their collaboration as planned, from the perspective of the 2013 Wimbledon champion, this would happen immediately after the end of the season, but not in the early preparation phase for the first Grand Slam of the coming year.

In seven years, Alcaraz won six Grand Slam titles under Ferrero and is currently back at number one in the world rankings. There is still a lack of clarity in the industry about the exact reasons for the separation of the successful duo.

Too many exhibition matches as a reason for separation

Meanwhile, Bartoli has another explanation for the sudden divorce. “The deeper reasons why Juan Carlos and Carlos could not reach an agreement are not exclusively financial. There is actually a problem with the tournament schedule chosen by Carlos Alcaraz and those around him,” said the Frenchwoman.

The successful Spanish coach did not agree with the many exhibition matches in particular.

“After the US Open, Carlos Alcaraz decided not to travel to Asia and not take part in the tournaments there. He then played an exhibition match in Riyadh and came to the Paris Masters, where he was not in shape at all – he was not ready to play,” said Bartoli. Shortly afterwards, Alcaraz was injured at the ATP Finals in Turin and missed the Davis Cup.

Ferrer, Moyá – can you join Nadal?

Because Alcaraz plays so dynamically and powerfully, he is more susceptible to injuries. “As a result, he is not careful enough in planning real recovery periods and is taking on more and more exhibition games when he should be training,” explained Bartoli.

In January, the Spaniard will compete against Jannik Sinner in Seoul. A development that Ferrero is said not to have been happy with.

The fact is: Ferrero is no longer the coach of the world number one. Samuel Lopéz, who has been part of the Alcaraz team since the beginning of 2025, will take over as coach on an interim basis for the first phase of the new year.

The requirements for the permanent Ferrero successor are special. “In any case, Carlos has to have someone to look after him. He is an absolute genius. But you have to know that Juan Carlos Ferrero talks to him between every point. Between every point he tells him what to do tactically,” said the former number seven in the WTA world rankings.

Sinner trains in Dubai

Alcaraz’s qualities are undoubtedly huge, but the coaching decision is groundbreaking – especially in a direct duel with his Italian opponent Sinner.

“I think he will have the intelligence to surround himself with a team, but he absolutely needs it. Otherwise he will not be competitive against the qualities that Jannik Sinner is developing, who trains every day in Dubai. I can tell you that an enormous amount of training has further improved his game,” emphasized Bartoli.

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Those: SNTV