Cervara comments on the separation of the Alcaraz-Ferrero duo: "Changing is not necessarily bad"

Thunderbolt in world tennis: Carlos Alcaraz ends his collaboration with Juan Carlos Ferrero, his mentor since 2018. A decision that surprises after an exceptional 2025 season, and which Gilles Cervara attempts to decipher with lucidity.

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Adrien Guyot

le 18/12/2025 à 07h55

2 min to read

Alcaraz Carlos Ferrero Juan

This Wednesday noon, Carlos Alcaraz announced to general surprise the end of his journey with his historic coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. The latter, who had just won the Coach of the Year award with Samuel Lopez at the ATP Awards, will therefore not be by the world number 1's side in 2026.

The 2003 Roland-Garros champion had been the Spanish player's coach since 2018. It is an announcement that completely caught the tennis world off guard. In 2025, Alcaraz had the best season of his career, winning eight titles including Roland-Garros and the US Open.

Iconic coach of Daniil Medvedev between 2017 and 2025, Gilles Cervara, who now works with Nishesh Basavareddy, has commented in recent hours on the separation of the Alcaraz-Ferrero duo.

"Seven years is a very long time"

"I have noticed that these champions are capable of sensing when they need something different, or more, to keep moving forward. And, if that is the case, it is very smart on Carlos's part to continue progressing.

I think - whether it's the player or the coach and this is what I experienced with Daniil (Medvedev) - that at a certain point, it is important to be able to sense it in advance so it's not too late and to be sure the change is made for the right reasons, towards more progress.

Now, only the future will be able to judge this decision. Nothing prevents one from thinking he could call Juan (Carlos Ferrero) back if he wins less. Seven years is a very long time. Beyond three years, already, it starts to be long and it is something important to maintain a form of freshness, to always find ways to progress, to challenge oneself.

"From the outside, we fear change but on the inside, it can be necessary"

Even at the highest level, even in a winning team, it is important because the very highest level is precisely made up of a sum of small details and the only way to progress is to constantly challenge oneself.

As a coach, we are in this permanent search between doing what we know will work with this player because we know him perfectly and seeking novelty. And, sometimes, it is no longer enough because the player feels he needs to change energy.

From the outside, often, we fear change but on the inside, it can be necessary. No one is inside the team so it is impossible to talk about it when you don't know. Changing is not necessarily bad, it brings new things," assured Cervara for L'Équipe.