Ben Shelton Hires Juan Carlos Ferrero as Coach for 2027
American star Ben Shelton will begin working with former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero at the start of the 2027 season, following Ferrero's split with Carlos Alcaraz.
Ben Shelton has confirmed he will work with Juan Carlos Ferrero from the 2027 season. The unexpected pairing links the rising American with the former coach of Carlos Alcaraz, following Ferrero's split with the Spaniard at the end of the 2025 season. Juan Carlos Ferrero, the former World No. 1, will join Shelton’s coaching team ahead of the 2027 campaign. The hiring was described as one of the biggest surprises of the season.
Ferrero had been teasing a return to tennis since his split with Alcaraz. His future coaching role was the subject of months of speculation. He was linked with Jannik Sinner's coaching vacancy, but that role ultimately went to Magnus Norman. The partnership with Shelton was confirmed on Sunday, November 1, 2026, ahead of a planned announcement by Ferrero on November 9.
Shelton's Grand Slam breakthrough in 2026
Shelton reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2026 US Open. He defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal before losing to Alexander Zverev in the championship match in four sets. That season, Shelton captured four ATP titles, including Masters 1000 events in Dallas, Munich, Stuttgart, and Montreal. His 2026 season represented a career-best performance.
Shelton also reached the Australian Open semifinals, Wimbledon quarterfinals, and the Roland Garros fourth round in 2026. He is yet to claim a Grand Slam title in his career. At age 24, Shelton is ranked a career-high World No. 4. Carlos Alcaraz, aged 23, is ranked World No. 3 and holds a 3350-point lead over Shelton. The two have played four times, with Alcaraz leading their head-to-head 3-1.
Ferrero's coaching legacy with Alcaraz
Juan Carlos Ferrero previously coached Carlos Alcaraz from age 15 until their split in December 2025. Together, they achieved six Grand Slam titles and eight Masters 1000 victories. Ferrero guided Alcaraz to the world No. 1 ranking. Their partnership was one of the most successful in recent tennis history. Ferrero also has prior experience coaching Alexander Zverev during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
As a player, Ferrero was a clay court specialist who won the 2003 Roland Garros title. He also reached the 2003 US Open final, where he lost to Andy Roddick. That remains the most recent Grand Slam singles title won by an American man.
Shelton's pursuit of a major title
The new partnership does not mark the departure of Bryan Shelton from Ben's team. Ferrero described Shelton as a player with extraordinary talent, power, and character. Shelton himself praised Ferrero’s experience and the potential impact of his arrival. The move sets the stage for Shelton's pursuit of his first Grand Slam title with Ferrero's guidance beginning in the 2027 season.
