By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, December 18, 2025
Photo credit: Rafa Nadal Academy
Toni Nadal is surprised Carlos Alcaraz opted to split from Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero—and believes the decision is not rooted in tennis or tactics.
Speaking to Spanish Radioestadio Noche about the sudden split, Toni Nadal, uncle and original coach of Rafa Nadal, said it surprised him because Alcaraz is coming off the most successful season of his career that saw him win two of the four Grand Slams and reclaim the year-end world No. 1 ranking.
“Of course it has surprised me, even more so after such a good season,” Toni Nadal told Radioestadio Noche. “The logical thing was to continue, I’m surprised because Alcaraz finishes as No. 1 in the world.”
During his seven-year partnership with former world No. 1 Ferrero, Alcaraz won 24 titles, including 6 Grand Slam championships, rose to world No. 1 and earned more than $57 Million in prize money.
Pointing to the fact Ferrero, who earned ATP Coach of the Year honors for the second time in the past four years, publicly stated he wanted to continue as coach, Toni Nadal speculates Alcaraz may have wanted to hear a new voice or wanted to tune out some of Ferrero’s criticism, including the fact he did not seem to support the reigning Roland Garros champion’s penchant for playing lucrative exhibitions at the end of recent seasons.
“I understand that the decision is Carlos’s because Ferrero has stated that he wants to continue, so I imagine that the decision is not tennis,” Toni Nadal said. “Relationships in the tennis world are difficult because the one who pays, which is the player, usually pays to hear what he wants to hear.”
Uncle Toni said one reason why his own coaching relationship with Rafa Nadal lasted so long was because of the blood bond they shared as uncle and nephew suggesting the King of Clay not only respected his uncle’s advice but knew it came from the heart. In a past interview with Tennis Now, Toni Nadal said part of his job was “to tell the truth” to Rafa Nadal, acknowledging some players grow weary of a coach’s candid criticism.
“For me it was easy to tell my player [Rafa Nadal] things that he didn’t like to hear because he was different, he was my nephew, it was another relationship,” Toni Nadal said.
Despite questioning Alcaraz’s decision to split from Ferrero, Toni Nadal said the six-time Grand Slam champion is so talented he believes splitting with Ferrero ultimately won’t have a major impact on Alcaraz’s future.
In short, Uncle Toni believes Alcaraz is simply too good to fail.
“I don’t think Alcaraz will be affected by this because he is a very good tennis player,” Toni Nadal concluded.
