Juan Carlos Ferrero could return to coach Carlos Alcaraz next year, former world number one predicts

Carlos Alcaraz's split with longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero late last year came as a huge shock to every tennis fan.

In December 2025, Alcaraz and Ferrero parted ways , ending their incredibly successful player-coach relationship after seven years working together. Ferrero had guided his Spanish compatriot to six of his seven Grand Slam titles and mentored him en route to becoming the youngest world number one ever.

Alcaraz's former assistant coach, Samuel Lopez, assumed the role of head coach after Ferrero's departure. Under Lopez's wing, Alcaraz has since gone on to complete the career Grand Slam.

Dinara Safina predicts Juan Carlos Ferrero's future

Recently, Ferrero revealed he intends to return to coaching in 2027 with an unnamed player. Some have speculated that the player will be Alcaraz's rival, Jannik Sinner, while others think it might be 20-year-old star Rafael Jodar.

But former women's world number one, Dinara Safina, thinks Ferrero is going to reunite with Alcaraz in 2027.

As per Tennis 365 , Safina said: "For some reason, it tells me that he will come back with Alcaraz. I don't know, I could be wrong. They've talked about [Jannik] Sinner and a few others, but I don't think so. I don't believe [Rafael] Jódar either. But I insist, I could be wrong."

Asked by journalist James Grey about the rumours surrounding Ferrero, Alcaraz said: "I am really happy that he is coming back to the tour. See him around. It is going to be great. Whoever he is going to coach, I think the player is going to be great."

Sinner's current coach, Darren Cahill, was scheduled to leave the Italian's team at the end of the 2025 season, but decided to stay for one more year.

In an interview with Digisport earlier this year, Sinner said: "Darren is a very, very important part of our team. He keeps all the team very close, and with his experience, it's important, especially in moments where things don't go our way.

"He's important. We had a nice talk in the end of the year, last year, after the ATP Finals, and I tried to talk a bit in general. He made a move what went in my favour and it was an important move, that he can stay for one more year, which for me, it is very important in this moment and the stage where I am.

"So him, with the combination with Simone [Vagnozzi], it's a great combination. They know each other very well, they trust each other very well. So I think it has been very good."

With Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi in his corner this year, Sinner has won five ATP Masters 1000 tournaments and clinched his second Wimbledon title.