The most surprising news of this off-season was undoubtedly Carlos Alcaraz's decision to end his professional relationship with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. Their collaboration had been going on for seven years and had produced truly exciting results, with 24 titles won and the achievement of the first position in the ATP ranking.
No one expected such an announcement at this time, considering that the current world number 1 has just experienced the brightest season of his young career. The 22-year-old from Murcia has clinched eight titles in 2025 and has been particularly consistent from spring onwards, finally resolving what had been defined as his main weakness.
The six-time Grand Slam champion improved his level even in indoor conditions, reaching the final at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin thanks to a very convincing run from all points of view. That result allowed Carlitos to finish the year at the top of the ATP rankings ahead of his main rival Jannik Sinner.
Carlos surprised everyone
Alcaraz will not have much time to metabolize this huge change, considering that the new season is imminent and there is exactly one month left before the start of the 2026 Australian Open (which will start on January 18 at Melbourne Park).
The Spanish star will be followed by Samuel Lopez in the Happy Slam, which is one of his main goals next year. The world No.1 – who has never gone beyond the quarterfinals in Melbourne – wants to add the only major title he is still missing and will need his best tennis in tough conditions.
It will be interesting to see how Carlos performs without his mentor, highlighting how he has once again decided not to play official tournaments before the AO. The Murcia-born talent will star in an exhibition match with Sinner scheduled in Seoul on January 10, before moving to Melbourne in the week before the start of the Grand Slam. This separation will continue to generate discussions until at least the beginning of 2026.
