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Juan Carlos Ferrero will return to the ATP Tour coaching ranks for the coming season after finalizing an agreement with a player, Eurosport reported. The former world number one and French Open champion made the announcement during an interview with Eurosport Spain tied to the release of his book, Mentale Stärke zum Erfolg, confirming that his next appointment on the professional circuit is already locked in.
Official Agreement Reached With Mystery Player
The 2003 Roland Garros winner kept the identity of his new pupil under wraps, telling Eurosport that he has already signed the agreement but that the official announcement will not drop until November 9. Speculation in recent months had linked the Spanish coach to several prominent names on the men’s tour, including Alex de Minaur and Felix Auger-Aliassime, following his high-profile split from Carlos Alcaraz last December after a seven-year partnership that yielded 24 ATP titles and six Grand Slam trophies.
Jannik Sinner Rumors Put to Rest
Addressing persistent media reports connecting him to world number one Jannik Sinner, Ferrero responded cautiously while acknowledging that discussions had generated significant industry chatter. “Maybe I can talk about it in the distant future. But right now that’s out of the question,” Ferrero told Eurosport. According to reporting from the Times cited by Eurosport, Swedish coach Magnus Norman is instead slated to succeed Darren Cahill in the Sinner camp. Tennis World Italia noted that Ferrero was notably more categorical when shutting down the Sinner speculation compared to his other prospective coaching links.
Juan Carlos Ferrero helped Carlos Alcaraz rise from teenage prospect to world No. 1 and win six Grand Slam titles. Their seven-year partnership ended in December 2025. Now Ferrero is open to coaching Alcaraz's biggest rival, Jannik Sinner.In his original El Larguero interview,… pic.twitter.com/2V4Cd840yl
Rafael Jódar Profile and Tour Speculation
Among the names most frequently discussed by analysts is 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jódar, who sits at number 11 in the world rankings and captured his first ATP title in Marrakesh during a breakthrough 2026 campaign that also featured a Washington final and a Canadian Open semifinal appearance, as detailed by Tennis World DE. Asked about a potential partnership with his young compatriot, Ferrero described him as an “impressive player” while declining to confirm any specifics regarding the November 9 reveal. “Of course, it is every coach’s goal to work with players who possess great talent. Whether now or at some point in the future,” Ferrero said.
Alexander Zverev Assessment and Tour Landscape
Offering perspective on the broader ATP Tour, Ferrero evaluated current top-ranked player Alexander Zverev, observing that the German has steadied his career trajectory over the past eighteen months. “He is a player who has pursued this goal for a long time,” Ferrero told Tennis World Italia, adding that Zverev capitalized effectively during a period when neither Alcaraz nor Sinner contested every major draw. Ferrero enters his next coaching chapter aiming to rebuild on tour after reflecting on the emotional toll of his departure from Alcaraz’s team, where he previously stated he invested his heart and soul.
