"Álvaro could perfectly play the role of Carlitos' assistant coach, if he wanted to"

Just a few hours before Carlos Alcaraz makes his debut at the 2026 Australian Open, his fans are looking at the first Grand Slam of the season with some doubts about how the Murcian will perform without the coach who lifted him to the top of the tennis world, coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. For Kiko Navarro, his first coach, there are no doubts or fears: Carlitos will do well without Juanki.

We spoke with Kiko to understand in more detail how Alcaraz may be feeling after a couple of turbulent weeks off the court. He is very confident for this 2026 and believes that Ferrero's departure will not cause a major earthquake for a Carlitos who still has the same team as always, minus Juanki.

"I found out about the news at home. Whatsapps and messages on Instagram started coming in. I was surprised. It was a shock," Kiko begins. "This is a topic that seemed to be forgotten. This is something I thought would happen later on. Maybe in three or four years, but it caught me by surprise now. It was a shock," he adds.

If the decision was made by the father, as some media outlets claim

Following the news, much of the Spanish press started to provide details of what was really happening within Alcaraz's circle. Some even claimed that the decision was solely made by Carlitos' father and that the tennis player had no choice but to accept.

"I don't know if that's the case. I will always support Carlitos' father. For me, the father is the key piece of the whole team. I imagine it wasn't solely him. Carlitos must have had a say, obviously, and I also imagine his manager, Albert Molina, but if it really was something from him, he must have had his reasons," Kiko confesses.

"The father wouldn't make a decision like that if he thought it would harm Carlitos even a little bit. If he did, it's for his benefit, because he must have seen something in the day-to-day, as he is on all the trips. He is always with them, so he must have seen decisions by Juan Carlos that, perhaps, he didn't quite like. Anyway, I believe that Carlitos, when motivated, will do well with any coach," he adds.

Regarding Samu López, Alcaraz's new head coach

"I know him personally from when he was coaching Nico Almagro. He seems to me a really nice person, very humble, a fantastic coach. Some people don't see it because he doesn't have a big name like Moyà, Ferrero, or Federer. He is a coach who knows the circuit, very straightforward. For me, he is fantastic for Carlitos," Kiko explains about Samu.

Álvaro, Carlitos' brother, will take on a new role

It was mentioned in other media outlets that Álvaro, Alcaraz's brother, will now take on a more significant role within the team, having been his sparring partner until now. For Kiko, his increased responsibility could also benefit the El Palmar tennis player.

"I've known him all my life. Of course, if he wanted to, he could get involved and play the role of a second coach with Samu perfectly. It depends on whether he wants to, but it's not just the tennis part. Of course, Álvaro also knows a lot about tennis, but he can also contribute a lot on the emotional side. In the end, it's a mix of everything. At a tennis level, there's not much more to teach him. It's more tactical and emotional, to keep him motivated," he states.

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Would Kiko return to coach Carlitos?

He was his first coach, leaving a special mark and remaining very close to Carlitos' circle and family, even to this day. He wouldn't hesitate to return if the opportunity arose. "I ended things very well with them. For me, Carlitos will always be a very special person in my life. The family is like mine. I would help in whatever way is needed, whatever role they asked of me," Kiko points out.

Regarding his chances for the 2026 Australian Open

"I've seen Carlos very well this past month at the Club. I have very good friends on the team who tell me they see him very motivated. I have good feelings for Australia. My sense is that he will do well."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, "Álvaro podría hacer perfectamente el papel de segundo entrenador de Carlitos, si él quisiera"