Carlos Alcaraz Endorses Juan Carlos Ferrero as Ben Shelton's New Coach

Ben Shelton has added former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero to his coaching team, bringing in the mentor who guided Carlos Alcaraz to six Grand Slam titles, Eurosport reported. The partnership aims to provide fresh direction for the American tennis player as he chases his first major title and attempts to break the Grand Slam drought for American men’s tennis.

Juan Carlos Ferrero Joins Ben Shelton Coaching Team

Shelton reached his first Grand Slam final this season, losing the championship match of the US Open to Alexander Zverev. Despite that breakthrough, the world number four has struggled for consistency outside hard courts, culminating in a recent defeat in Basel against local player Jerome Kym, who is ranked outside the top 200. Eurosport reported that Shelton sought out Ferrero’s proven experience to help bridge the gap between his high-ceiling potential and week-to-week execution.

Carlos Alcaraz's former coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has his say on the Sincaraz debate 💬 pic.twitter.com/HDJKY8K9Y6

— https://x.com/tntsports/status/2107811747411157194

Carlos Alcaraz endorsed the new alliance, stating that Ferrero “will do great and help him a lot,” according to Eurosport. Ferrero spent seven years shaping Alcaraz’s career before their collaboration ended late last year, compiling a resume that includes six major trophies and extensive experience handling elite pressure on the ATP Tour.

Balancing Family Dynamics and Tour Rivals

Bryan Shelton, the player’s father and long-time coach, will remain part of the setup. Eurosport reported that the family dynamic will not be broken, with the senior Shelton continuing to work alongside Ferrero. This arrangement mirrors Ferrero’s past experience working alongside Alexander Zverev’s father and coach during his time with the German player, as well as Alcaraz’s closely integrated family team structure.

By bringing in Ferrero, Shelton gains direct tactical insight into two of his primary rivals at the majors. Zverev and Alcaraz combined to win three of the four Grand Slam titles in 2026, with Alcaraz taking the Australian Open and Zverev claiming Roland-Garros and the US Open, as reported by Eurosport.

Shelton captured four titles this year, including his second career ATP Masters 1000 victory in Canada. However, his game remains heavily reliant on a powerful serve while his backhand lags behind, and he has yet to establish top-tier form on clay and grass surfaces. Ferrero earned a reputation as a dominant clay-court player during his own playing career and subsequently developed Alcaraz into a formidable grass-court competitor, giving the new coach a clear blueprint to help Shelton build a more complete, surface-neutral game ahead of the next ATP season.