From Carreño to Alcaraz, Samuel López's toughest decision: "I couldn't miss this train"

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The Ferrero Tennis Academy celebrated one of the most special days of the year this past Thursday: the official meal for all workers with the famous soccer match of students versus tutors. As expected, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz stole the spotlight, although there was a third actor who also played a leading role. We refer to Samuel López (Villena, 1970), one of the most successful coaches in Spanish tennis this century, and one of the founders of a sports complex that keeps growing. He's the man who guided Pablo Carreño to the top 10 and who in 2025 will become the second coach of Carlitos.

But how did it all happen? Why did he make that decision? What led him to conclude his stage with Carreño? What will his role be within Alcaraz's team? All the questions are complicated, but all have answers. Nestled inside the gymnasium at almost 20º that Alicante welcomed us with, Samu sits down with Punto de Break to tell every detail of this story for the first time. A narrative filled with emotion, where brain and heart faced off, putting him in a dilemma from which he would not emerge unscathed. Once the decision and his role in the new project were accepted, the man from Villena shows the smile of someone who knows he has taken the right path.

It feels strange to see you without Pablo by your side.

The week before informing him of the decision was really tough... as tough as the following two weeks. I felt strange; there have been many years, many feelings, both of us hold many memories together. Once I started working with Juan Carlos (Ferrero) and Carlos (Alcaraz), I began to focus more on my goals, concentrating on the day-to-day; now I am more immersed in the role.

What led you to change projects?

What made me change projects was a conversation with Juan Carlos; his idea for the past two years was for me to join the team at some point, this was something even Pablo knew. That idea was put on hold as long as I was with Pablo, but I knew that at any moment Juan Carlos would ask me to join them. I had everything set up to continue another year with Pablo, but at the last moment, plans changed...

When?

In the second week of preseason with Pablo; we had already started, but that same Monday, Juan Carlos tells me that the time has come, that they need to add someone else to the team. I didn't expect it, to be honest.

And you didn't hesitate.

At that moment, yes, I needed to think about it, although I knew that my future in this sport's venture was at stake; it meant stepping up another rung in my coaching career. I couldn’t miss this opportunity because, if I didn't join, someone else would. There are many weeks throughout the year, and Juan Carlos needs another person.

How did you tell Pablo?

Obviously, something like this couldn't be said over the phone. If I found out on a Tuesday, I went up to Barcelona on Thursday, and that's where we talked. The first thing we tackled was this conversation; it was very challenging to tell him; I could hardly finish sentences due to emotion. I can only thank him for the way he reacted because he also didn't expect it.

What was his reaction?

He was a bit taken aback, but he understood. What I couldn’t do was be with Pablo and Carlos at the same time; besides, it wouldn’t have been ethical, and in terms of time, I wouldn't have been able to manage it. It was a decision based on my family and my professional future. It hurts in my soul; I got emotional talking to him, but Pablo told me to be calm, that in my situation, he would have done the same. After giving it a lot of thought, I think I had to do this; I suppose it's the dream of any coach. Not only to be with Carlos, but also with Juan Carlos, with whom I share the same vision of tennis. He knows it better than anyone after these 6-7 years; I've been there a few times, participated in some tournaments, gotten to know it, but from a greater distance. Now I have a new challenge ahead, and it's very exciting.

If Pablo were #10 in the world, would you have made the same decision?

In that situation, I couldn't say... For me, the goal with Pablo was to help him recover, to return to playing tennis, which we achieved. This year, the aim is for him to be among the best again; I’m not sure if it's top100 or top50, but to definitively bring him back up. I was confident that would happen.

Do you think his best years are behind him?

I would say yes, but I am convinced that he will have good years again. We need to be realistic and set very clear objectives, but focusing on the day-to-day is crucial. Right now, Pablo is at a stage where the most important thing is to accumulate positive days, without physical problems. If he had been top10? It would have been an even tougher decision, but I believe I would have done the same.

A talent like Alcaraz cannot be rejected.

With Carlos, we aim for everything; the feeling of going to a Grand Slam with the intention of winning it. I have been in quarterfinals and semifinals of these tournaments, in Davis Cup finals, in matches for an Olympic medal, but I also want to be in a Grand Slam final. At least I want to work towards that possibility or to be world No. 1. I am ambitious; I don't settle.

Why does Juan Carlos decide to add a second coach? Why now?

As the years have gone by, with all the traveling and pressures... many responsibilities fall on the coach, so having the support of a second voice is important. It's a figure that can bring freshness, especially now that Carlos is becoming more mature and making some decisions. It requires absolute mental work where we all need to be sharp. If Juan Carlos has made this decision, it is for Carlos' benefit, because he believes it can help him a lot.

And if you had refused the offer?

They would have looked for someone else, for sure.

I can't think of many.

Someone close, I don't know... maybe a David Ferrer? For example. For a player, the ideal situation is to have people close who have known you since you were young; this is our philosophy.

What do you think you can bring to the team?

On one hand, emphasize many of the things that Juan Carlos already tells him, but said in a different way. Both of us aim at the same path; that's non-negotiable. I can also add some motivational speech; here the interesting part is that each one has their character. Of course, the experience I've had with other players like Pablo (Carreño), Nico (Almagro), or Juan Carlos (Ferrero) himself. I know I can provide a different type of approach in training, always aiming for the same goal.

In the technical aspect, it seems Carlos already knows how to do everything.

That's precisely one of the challenges; he has so many weapons that organizing them all is the biggest challenge. If you put too much order, you can take away his essence, which is something we don't want either. This is the main challenge with Carlos, so both of us will try to convey the same message in different ways, keeping him focused and motivated for many more weeks, an area in which he needs improvement. We want him to perform at his best in every match he plays, whether against Fulano or Mengano.

Have you already divided the weeks?

We have the planning done, but I can't tell you off the top of my head (laughs). Juan Carlos will start the year in Australia, and then I do Rotterdam and I think Dubai. Then they will go to Indian Wells and Miami; when the clay court season starts, I will take over, but for example, tournaments like Barcelona or Madrid, we will probably share. At Roland Garros and Wimbledon, we are both there. I start the American tour, and Juan Carlos joins in at the US Open. In the Asian tour, we will split a couple of tournaments each. I have it all more or less mapped out in my head.

Your entry into the team could mean that Juan Carlos is becoming more distant?

No, no...

Not even in the long term?

Juan Carlos is very involved; he is very happy and motivated with the project and the team. The idea is for him to continue being the head coach, the boss. Even though he says we are on the same level, the reality is different (laughs). I am very close to him, almost at the same level, but Juan Carlos is the one in charge.

He needed to travel fewer weeks, and you needed to return to the tour.

That's what people think, but with Pablo, I went up to Barcelona many weeks. It's true that I haven't traveled to many tournaments in recent years, but for me, going to Barcelona for a week is traveling. We haven't discussed this, but in this sense, I think I come out winning too. Last week, we went to Murcia every day, by car, but at 5:00 in the afternoon, I was back home. Now I won't only be here more, at the Academy, but I'll also be more at home with the family. In the end, I am 54 years old...

You are like a young lad!

(Laughs) I am eager, with energy, with the motivation to achieve great things. I think I am gaining in all aspects; that's why I made this decision, much to my regret, I couldn't let this train pass by.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, De Carreño a Alcaraz, la decisión más dura de Samuel López: “No podía dejar pasar este tren”