ATP Flavio Cobolli Juan Carlos Ferrero

Cobolli confirms his frustrated attempt to sign Ferrero: "It was difficult"

Andrés Tomás Rico - 9 Oct 2026
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Cobolli confirms his attempt to sign Ferrero: "It was difficult."

Since his unexpected split with Carlos Alcaraz last December, Juan Carlos Ferrero has been the most sought-after coach in the tennis world. The Valencian shaped the jewel of El Palmar and knew how to guide him to worldwide stardom. He managed to take him to number one in the ATP ranking and they won six Grand Slams together. But before that, he also coached Alexander Zverev. In short, he is a highly experienced coach that every tennis player would want to have.

And while he still doesn't know whom he will coach next season, he has hinted in several interviews that it is not for lack of offers. Some place him with Jannik Sinner, others with Rafael Jódar. But the Spanish coach neither confirms nor denies it. However, there has been one player that the former tennis player has refused to coach, despite the insistence of the player and his father.

It is Flavio Cobolli. This was confirmed by his father and coach Stefano Cobolli during an appearance on Tennis Talk, a SuperTennis show. “I have tried, I have been trying for years to make him the coach of Flavio,” explained the Italian. However, his efforts never came to fruition. Ferrero rejected the proposal several times: “He has told me no three or four times. I can say it openly; there is no problem.”

Cobolli reached the final of Roland Garros and is ranked number 7 in the ATP

But the official confirmation from the player was missing, which he provided after falling in the first round of the Shanghai Masters 1000. In the mixed zone, he assured that he tried, but it couldn’t be: “Yes, I knew (that his father tried) and I also said I would ask him, but I still find it hard to talk to him; I feel a bit intimidated. We knew it was difficult, but we have an excellent relationship and that will remain. I wish him all the best if he decides to start from scratch with another player. So we’ll see each other on the courts,” concluded a Flavio Cobolli who, for now, will have to continue with his father. For now, he is doing quite well, having been a finalist at Roland Garros, champion of the Davis Cup, and number 7 in the world. 
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Cobolli confirma su intento frustrado de fichar a Ferrero: "Era difícil"