Juan Carlos Ferrero Compares Coaching Alcaraz and Zverev
Former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero reflects on his seven-year partnership with Carlos Alcaraz, which yielded seven Grand Slams, and his brief, strained stint coaching a young Alexander Zverev, highlighting differing approaches to player development.
Juan Carlos Ferrero has detailed the contrasting coaching journeys that defined his work with Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. The 46-year-old former French Open champion ended a seven-year partnership with Alcaraz in December last year, a period during which they won seven Grand Slam titles and reached the world No 1 ranking. His earlier, brief collaboration with Zverev, which began when the German was 20, concluded amid disputes over professionalism and cultural approach.
Ferrero began coaching Alcaraz when the Spaniard was just 15 years old. He described a philosophy of nurturing the player's innate qualities rather than trying to mold him into his own image. This adaptive approach spanned from 2018 until the end of 2025. While Ferrero noted that Alcaraz's partying in Ibiza between the French Open and Wimbledon in the past caused some tension, he never openly criticized his former charge's professionalism.
Alcaraz's Historic Achievement
Carlos Alcaraz's crowning achievement under Ferrero's guidance came at the 2024 Australian Open. Winning the title at age 22, he became the youngest player in tennis history to complete the career Grand Slam. This historic victory in January 2026 cemented the legacy of their long-term partnership.
Zverev's Path to World No 1
In stark contrast, Ferrero's work with Alexander Zverev lasted only a few months in 2017. Ferrero stated they had different understandings of professionalism, attributing this partly to cultural differences. Despite the rocky past, Ferrero has since praised Zverev's development. He called the German's 2026 French Open and US Open victories well-deserved, noting his level had improved significantly over the preceding year and a half.
Zverev's twin Grand Slam triumphs propelled him to world number two. Ferrero observed that Zverev has taken advantage of opportunities presented by injuries to rivals like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and is now mentally stronger. The German has an immediate chance to ascend to the top ranking. He can become ATP world No. 1 by reaching the quarter-finals of the upcoming Vienna Open.
Ferrero has since moved to a new coaching role with an unnamed player. His reflections underscore how coaching elite talent requires adaptability to vastly different personalities and career stages. The tennis world now watches as Zverev aims to capitalize on his recent surge, starting with his quarter-final match in Vienna.
