Alcaraz speaks for the first time about his breakup with Ferrero: "It was a chapter of my life that had to end"

Carlos Navarro | 16 Jan 2026 | 03.01

Alcaraz Spoke of His Breakup with Juan Carlos Ferrero for the First Time. Source: Getty

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Carlos Alcaraz is already in Melbourne to begin his quest for the 2026 Australian Open. It is the only Grand Slam missing in his collection, the final piece of a story that has already been written with golden pages. On the other side of the draw, his great villain, a Jannik Sinner who, along with other big names, will try to prevent the Career Grand Slam of the player from Murcia... who will play his first tournament, and to add to it, without Juan Carlos Ferrero by his side.

It was obvious that the player from Murcia would receive questions about his breakup with the one from Ontinyent, the architect of a fantasy trajectory that seemed to have reserved several more chapters. That's not the case, and Carlos emphasized in the press conference, almost constantly, that his team is virtually the same as last season... except for one member, of course. Nevertheless, this hasn't stopped him from carefully preparing for the new season, maintaining, as he confesses, the same routines as before.

Alcaraz opened up and spoke publicly for the first time about his split with Ferrero, stating that it was a mutual decision

- He returns to Melbourne with a clear goal: to conquer the only Grand Slam missing in his collection

"As I've mentioned on other occasions, I believe this is my main goal for this year. It's my first tournament and my big target. It'll be very interesting to see how well I've prepared: I think I had a great preseason and I've stayed in great shape. I'm hungry, eager to win this title, eager to achieve a great result here. I'm doing everything I can to prepare, and I'm really looking forward to the tournament starting."

- First Grand Slam without Juan Carlos Ferrero as part of his team

"I have put together my team, which is virtually the same as last year's. Juan Carlos and I made this decision. I have full confidence in the team around me right now. As I've said, the training sessions have gone really well. I feel great, I look forward to this tournament with the team I currently have by my side.

It's something we simply decided on and that's how it played out. It's a chapter of my life that had to end now. We decided on it this way. I have to say that I am truly grateful for the seven years I spent with Juan Carlos. I have learned a lot. Surely, thanks to him, I am the player I am right now. However, internally, we decided on this. We closed this chapter mutually. We remain friends and have a good relationship, but we decided on it this way."

- He stated at the end of last year that he would prioritize the Australian Open over two titles from other Grand Slams. Would he do the same if given the choice among the other three Grand Slams?

"That's a good question (smiles). I don't know. I don't know which one I would choose. Completing the Career Grand Slam would certainly be impressive; being the youngest player to achieve it would be even more special... but three are three. Three Grand Slams are three Grand Slams (smiles). I don't know. It's a question that I'll need some time to think about; I can't answer quickly."

- About his preseason and potential changes compared to previous years

"There have been almost no changes. We were very focused on the things we wanted to work on and improve for this season. As I mentioned, I have the same team as last year, only one member is missing. The rest of the team... are all the same. So, we haven't changed any routines. We've handled this preseason the same way, focusing on the improvements I've set for the rest of the year."

- His overall experience at the Australian Open and around Melbourne

"For me, Australia is one of those tournaments that continuously seeks improvements. I come every year and always notice that there are positive changes, changes to make the players feel more comfortable at this tournament. They have one of the best infrastructures in terms of courts, courts with roofs, and places for recovery. Everything here is made very easy for you, I love coming every year. Of course, the journey isn't the best; it's too long (smiles), but once you arrive, you enjoy it a lot. I haven't visited many places in Melbourne, but there are a few that I love, especially quiet places where I can walk and be calm with my team. That's a great way to prepare for the matches."

- Regarding his incredible reception and the affection he experienced in Korea after his match against Sinner

"I had talked to some players about how tennis is growing and how fans are getting more and more hooked year after year in Asia. It was my first time in Korea, and I fell in love with the support from the public. There aren't too many tournaments, but seeing how people welcomed me was crazy, unreal; it was something I loved. It's great for tennis and for me to see how important this sport can become in these countries."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz habla por primera vez de su ruptura con Ferrero: "Era un capítulo de mi vida que tenía que terminar"