What can Ferrero bring to Shelton?

After much deliberation, Juan Carlos Ferrero now has a new professional project for 2027. The Ontinyent native will embark on a new adventure, perhaps still carrying the invisible shadow of what he achieved with Carlos Alcaraz, whom he helped grow as a player, playing a fundamental role in the emergence of a unique talent. Many will likely expect Juanki to replicate a similar forecast with his next pupil: the Valencia coach has imposed a very tough standard for himself in a sport that waits for no one and demands performance... and of course, there’s only one Alcaraz.

Ben Shelton was not among the predictions of any analyst. The American has become the perfect dark horse and, at the same time, a very appealing option for Juan Carlos to continue proving his worth in coaching. He wasn't on the radar for two reasons: the rumors never pointed to him in the past, thanks to the solid and established structure the American has had on his coaching staff since reaching the elite (with his father, Bryan, at the operations center)... and due to the logistical complications, of course: it seems complicated for Shelton to spend the majority of his time and training blocks in Villena, a point of contention between Ferrero and Alcaraz's camp, and a measure we will see how he adapts to his work with the American.

Ben Shelton announced Juan Carlos Ferrero, former coach of Carlos Alcaraz, as a new member of his team and spoke, in an exclusive interview with ESPN, about how he made this decision. Ferrero coached Alcaraz since he was 12 years old, but the two unexpectedly ended their partnership in 2025. Since then, several players have shown interest in having the coach, until he accepted Shelton's proposal! 📷 Clive Brunskill/Getty Images #TennisOnESPN

— ESPN Brasil (@ESPNBrasil) November 1, 2026

The reasons why Ferrero could become the piece Shelton needed to take his game to the next level

Regarding the tennis and professional aspects, the combination seems winning. It fits. It clicks. At 24 years old, and with several complete seasons on the circuit behind him, Ben shows ambition with this move. The American just signed the best season of his career, winning back the Masters 1000 in Canada, triumphing on all surfaces and reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open 2026... but he feels it is not enough. The desire to take a step further, to give a new dimension to his tennis, is demonstrated in decisions like this: unafraid to step out of his comfort zone, to listen to new voices that instill teachings that elevate his ceiling as a player.

Juan Carlos will step into a well-established working structure... but by no means toxic. Many players and coaches have praised the professional relationship between Bryan and Ben, who, despite their family ties, do not bear the burdens of other relationships (e.g., Stefanos and Apostolos... and many others). The analytical yet calm character of the former American player should mesh well with Juan Carlos: the working environment always seems lively, relaxed, open to new opinions and inputs from outside. How can Juan Carlos turn Shelton into an even more dominant player?

Character and calmness on the court: a presence that soothes Shelton's impulses

We have seen Ben lose control on multiple occasions on the court. His exuberant physique and power sometimes perfectly exemplify that power without control is useless. How many times has the American gotten carried away after a great shot, spurred on by the feeling that he can do anything on the court, only to follow up with unforced errors due to the little margin for error he plays with? Ferrero had a calming effect on Alcaraz on many occasions: just with a glance, merely seeking his expression, Carlitos was capable of regaining the mental frameworks of his tennis and lowering the intensity, a widespread issue in Shelton's game and one where Juan Carlos can lend a hand thanks to the calmness he exudes on the court.

A better construction of points, utilizing all available tools

The raw material to work with is fabulous... but limited. Ferrero is fully aware of Shelton’s potential, but also of his weaknesses. At this point in the game, the idea that Juan Carlos can transform the American's backhand into world-class seems more of a utopia; on the contrary, the Ontinyent native is an expert in creating game plans and exploiting all areas of the court, reinforcing decision-making after serving. He himself was one of the pioneers on the circuit of the serve-and-forehand combo, a play heavily utilized by Ben... but his tennis was not limited to this play: knowing what to do with the third and fourth shot when your first two weapons are not enough is one of the American's ongoing challenges, something Juan Carlos has always excelled at. Completely exploiting his forehand, opening up the court with angles on the third and fourth shots, with more patience to deliver the final blow and without the need to approach the net thoughtlessly: perhaps this, on a tennis level, is the area where the Ontinyent coach can elevate Shelton's competitive floor the most.

Footwork: transitioning from a buffalo to a good boxer

Technically, Shelton's backhand is limited. How can he improve on that side of the court? The approach is clear: position better to hit while on the move, adjusting his short efforts to find the sweet spot of the ball more easily. It is not easy to move the body that Shelton has, a guy who carries a lot of muscle and, therefore, sometimes struggles with lateral movements. The goal is for power to integrate more efficiently into footwork: for Ben, through exercises and relentless repetitions, to fully capitalize on the way he moves on the court, not yielding so much ground when shifting from forehand, further dominating the center of the court without overexerting himself. No one better than Ferrero, who has seen firsthand the evolution of Alcaraz's footwork (and who was also a fabulous player in this aspect), to economize his movements on the court.

Winning character and experience in crucial moments

Shelton is overflowing with ambition, competitive mentality, and lack of fear in front of the best: however, there may be a lack of a little more self-conviction when 'the chips are down', in the most important moments of the match. There, Ferrero's calmness, his experience at the highest level, and his constant directives from the bench that refer to trusting the plan can become a new and magnificent ally for Shelton. Juanki has been on the other side of the court in finals and Grand Slam titles, with more moments close to the summit than his father in his journey as a player: a voice that reinforces his new pupil in such moments could end up making the difference. Will Juan Carlos be what the recent US Open finalist needed? Will we see the Ontinyent native take one of his pupils to the top again? Time will tell: first encounter in Turin in a couple of weeks (without having started working together yet, but Juan Carlos will be there for several ATP galas). Get your popcorn ready.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Qué puede aportar Ferrero a Shelton?