Juan Carlos Ferrero Says He’d Be Open to Coaching Jannik Sinner After Carlos Alcaraz Split: “It Would Be Wonderful”

Juan Carlos Ferrero has opened the door to coaching Jannik Sinner in the future, saying that while he once would have ruled it out after his split with Carlos Alcaraz, he now feels stronger and would consider the role. Ferrero, who coached Alcaraz from the age of 15 and helped guide him to six Grand Slam titles, admitted the breakup still leaves him with “a little sadness,” but said he has moved on and is now open to new opportunities. He praised Sinner’s work ethic and desire to stay world No. 1, calling his attitude ideal for a coach. He also reflected on what he misses most about working with Alcaraz, especially his aggressive but upbeat on-court personality and the sense that they were making history together. Ferrero said he and Alcaraz are no longer in close contact, explaining that both needed space after the separation, though they did exchange messages after Alcaraz’s Australian Open and Doha victories and when he was injured.

The comments came amid renewed focus on the rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner, one of the defining matchups in men’s tennis. Alcaraz started 2026 by winning his first major title without Ferrero in his box, completing a career Grand Slam in the process. But his season was later disrupted by a wrist injury that kept him out of the French Open and forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon. With Alcaraz absent, Sinner was expected to contend strongly at Roland-Garros, but instead suffered a stunning second-round exit against Juan Manuel Cerundolo after leading by two sets to love and 5-1 in the third set. The loss drew attention because Sinner appeared physically drained during the match, especially in hot conditions. Ferrero said he believed the collapse was physical rather than mental, pointing to Sinner’s heavy workload in the months before the tournament and suggesting fatigue had built up over time.

Ferrero said Sinner had been playing too much without enough recovery, and that the effects showed in Paris. He noted that at 5-1 in the third set, Sinner was still striking the ball cleanly and controlling the match, but then suddenly faded. While acknowledging that Sinner can still improve in extreme heat, Ferrero said the Italian has become a far more complete player in recent years and is capable of adapting his game further. Looking at the broader rivalry, Ferrero gave Alcaraz a slight edge, rating him at 55-45 because of his greater variety, dynamism, and ability to break Sinner’s rhythm. Still, he emphasized that their matches are almost always close and that the rivalry remains wide open.