Alcaraz and Ferrero's breakup joins the most unexpected ones in the ATP: Nadal - Toni, Djokovic - Vajda, Agassi - Gilbert

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Few imagined on a December day, with the season over and the eyes set on an Open de Australia drawing nearer, that Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero would end their professional relationship unexpectedly and through two statements.

The partnership between Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero closes seven years later with a total of 24 titles, six Grand Slams, and the earliest world number one in ATP history. In 2025, the Murcian player secured eight titles, including Roland Garros and US Open, winning 71 out of 80 matches played.

In the tennis world, the relationship between players and coaches is becoming shorter, emphasizing results and feelings. However, Alcaraz is not the only top-flight player to part ways with his most successful coach; in fact, Ferrero was his only elite coach. The list includes the greatest names: Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi, or David Ferrer.

These have been the most notable splits in the tennis world

Rafa Nadal and Toni Nadal

They seemed destined to be together throughout the tennis career of the Mallorcan. Especially considering that his uncle Toni was the first to put a racket in his hand, taught him the basics, shaped him, and propelled him to stardom, instilling in him a competitive mentality to the fullest.

Together, they obtained a total of 16 Grand Slams (10 Roland Garros, 2 Wimbledon, 3 US Open, and 1 Open de Australia). However, in 2017, 27 years later, Toni Nadal chose to step aside, acknowledging that he represented "a difficulty" for the development of his nephew's career. The high demand he always imposed and the many years of relationship were the triggers to make way for Carlos Moyà, with whom he clinched six more 'Majors' (4 Roland Garros, 1 US Open, and 1 Open de Australia).

Despite the end of their relationship, Toni Nadal continued to watch over his nephew on the circuit, even seen occasionally at some matches. Undoubtedly, the bond they had, from Rafa's earliest beginnings, with the added family tie, combined with all their achievements thereafter, made them the most media-covered and one of the most successful partnerships in the history of the circuit.

Novak Djokovic and Marian Vajda

The relationship between the Serbian and the Slovak began in 2006 and ended in 2022, with a brief break in 2017. Vajda took charge of Nole's career as he began to excel, helping him secure his first Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open and his historic 2011, when he also reached number one. Although he accepted the entry of Boris Becker between 2014 and 2016, Vajda remained a key figure in Belgrade's team.

However, in May 2017, amid one of Djokovic's worst career moments—indeed, one of the few years without a Grand Slam victory—he decided to entirely overhaul his team: “I want to find a way back to the top. I have great faith in this process, so I will take the time to find the right person I can connect with professionally,” he stated at the time.

After brief failed trials with Andre Agassi and Radek Stepanek, Djokovic returned to the coach who had taken him to the top just a year later. With Vajda by his side and following elbow surgery in early 2018, the Serbian claimed four of the next five Grand Slams (Wimbledon 2018, US Open 2018, 2019 Australian Open, and Wimbledon 2019), solidifying his return to the top of the ATP rankings.

If the first split surprised everyone, the second, in March 2022, arrived at a time of weariness after so many years, with Goran Ivanisevic now Djokovic's head coach as he gradually narrowed his working group. Vajda and Djokovic thus concluded a partnership that earned a total of 20 Grand Slams, more than any other player-coach duo, making it one of the most historic in tennis.

Andre Agassi and Brad Gilbert

The Agassi-Gilbert partnership was also one of the most successful remembered. The coach joined forces with the Las Vegas native in 1994, offering a fresh perspective on Agassi's game. Together, they secured six Grand Slams (3 Australian Open, 2 US Open, and 1 Roland Garros), an Olympic gold medal (Atlanta 1996), and the ATP ranking's top spot. Moreover, Gilbert stood by Agassi during his darkest moments between 1997 and 1998 when he dropped out of the top 100, amidst intense media scrutiny of his personal and love life.

After that dip in Agassi's illustrious career, they arguably lived through Agassi's best tennis year in 1999, clinching Roland Garros, US Open, and reaching the Wimbledon final. “Nobody could have done what Brad has done for my game because nobody understands the game like he does; he has a complete grasp of tennis: tactics, strategy, game dynamics, and how to apply it all to defeat each player,” the eight-time Grand Slam champion stated in his successful autobiography, Open.

However, in mid-2002, they mutually decided to end their partnership. Agassi was entering the twilight of his career, seeking new stimuli and perspectives. He found them in a certain Darren Cahill, currently coaching Jannik Sinner, helping Agassi secure one more Grand Slam in 2003 (Australian Open) until his retirement in 2006.

David Ferrer and Javier Piles

Although 'Ferru' unfortunately never claimed a Grand Slam title, the bulk of his career and his peak performance, propelling him to number three in the world, winning two Davis Cups and the Paris Bercy Masters 1000, was alongside Javier Piles.

Their partnership started when Ferrer was only 16, with the coach molding him both in terms of tennis and mentally, taming a player who, in his early years, was rather explosive. Piles provided the stability and tools for Ferrer to elevate his game and compete with the world's best.

By the end of the 2013 season, when Ferrer remained as the world number three, the player decided to part ways with Javier Piles, a separation that deeply affected his former coach. Although Ferrer later worked with Milos Raonic, Denis Shapovalov, or Roberto Bautista, he never replicated the success he had with the man from Alicante. Ferrer started training with José Francisco Altur, lasting a year, and from 2015 until his retirement, he was coached by Paco Fogués.

In conclusion, the split between Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero has shocked the tennis world, but, as we have just seen, it is not the first among the greatest players, and it does not seem to be the last, with all eyes now on a potential final year for Darren Cahill and Jannik Sinner. But that is a story for next year.
 

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La ruptura de Alcaraz y Ferrero se une a las más inesperadas de la ATP: Nadal - Toni, Djokovic - Vajda, Agassi - Gilbert…