Juan Carlos Ferrero, the former coach who guided Carlos Alcaraz to six Grand Slam titles, has revealed he could make a sensational move to coach the Spaniard's greatest rival, Jannik Sinner. The development comes just weeks after Ferrero's unexpected departure from Alcaraz's team, creating potential shockwaves in the tennis world.
Ferrero's Departure and Future Prospects
The 45-year-old former French Open champion ended his seven-year partnership with Alcaraz last month, merely two months after the 22-year-old defeated Sinner in the US Open final. That victory not only secured Alcaraz his second Flushing Meadows trophy but also saw him reclaim the world number one ranking from the Italian star.
Since leaving Alcaraz's setup, Ferrero has confirmed receiving four coaching opportunities within tennis but has turned them all down. Instead, he has temporarily joined the technical staff supporting up-and-coming golfer Angel Ayora as he returns to competitive action.
The Sinner Question
During an appearance on Spanish radio program El Larguero, Ferrero was directly asked whether he would consider coaching Sinner, who has emerged as Alcaraz's primary rival on the ATP Tour. His response has sent speculation into overdrive.
"Right now, I don't know," Ferrero stated. "He's a great player, one of the two best in the world. I wouldn't say no. If I were given the opportunity, I would have to think about it."
The coach acknowledged the emotional difficulty of watching his former pupil compete without him, particularly as Alcaraz advances through the Australian Open without dropping a set. "It's difficult when you see Carlos compete and see your whole team there on the sideline," he admitted. "It's not easy to describe the feeling."
Alcaraz's Continued Success
Despite the coaching change, Alcaraz has maintained his formidable form, reaching the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time in his career with a commanding victory over Alex de Minaur. The Spanish sensation remains on track to become the youngest man to achieve the career Grand Slam.
Alcaraz has credited improved patience management for his successful Melbourne campaign. "For me sometimes, I'm not that patient," he confessed after his quarter-final win. "My team told me, be patient. Your level, the level you want to play, is going to come, for sure."
The world number one will face Alexander Zverev in Friday's semi-final, with the winner progressing to potentially meet either Sinner or Novak Djokovic in what could become an even more intriguing final should Ferrero eventually join the Italian's camp.
Ferrero's Coaching Philosophy
The former world number one acknowledged the challenge of finding comparable motivation after his successful partnership with Alcaraz. "After being with Carlos, it's hard to get excited about another player and achieve things," he explained. "It's my life, I'm not going to give it up. I don't know when I'll be back, but I'll most likely return."
Ferrero's potential move to coach Sinner would create one of the most fascinating coaching dynamics in modern tennis, pitting his intimate knowledge of Alcaraz's game against his former protégé in what could become regular Grand Slam showdowns.
