Carlos Alcaraz’s former coach finally talks about the Jannik Sinner rumors as new videos of them together come out
Carlos Alcaraz’s former coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, who guided the Spanish star to six Grand Slam titles, didn’t deny the gossip about him possibly working with Jannik Sinner. When asked if he’d been in touch with Alcaraz’s Italian rival, Ferrero chose to keep those conversations private.
He also shared that before deciding to join Ben Shelton’s coaching team for the 2027 ATP season, he had some “very important discussions.” This all comes as the ATP Finals in Turin are set to feature another exciting Shelton vs. Alcaraz matchup, where Ferrero’s past and present coaching paths meet.
Ferrero’s comments about Sinner came shortly after he confirmed coaching Shelton and after Magnus Norman, who used to coach Stan Wawrinka, joined Sinner’s team. In an interview with Marca, the former world No. 1 was asked directly about contacting Sinner but politely said, “I’d rather keep that to myself.” He added, “There were some very important talks, but I don’t want to share the details.”
Earlier, Ferrero had said he’s open to working with Sinner, despite some people thinking it would be a betrayal. Back in October, he told Cadena SER, “I want to keep growing as a coach, and I can’t close the door on Jannik. Some say it’s not ethical to coach Carlos’ rival, but those people aren’t in my shoes. It’d be silly to say no to a player like Jannik.”
Ferrero also mentioned a rising player, Rafael Jodar, who might earn more money at the Finals than he did all of 2026. In Marca, he confirmed he had offers to coach again in 2026 but didn’t feel ready to get back on the ATP Tour just yet.
He’s gearing up to help Shelton in 2027 and has already been working with him. In fact, he helped prepare Shelton for the Paris Masters final against Alcaraz. Ferrero admitted, “It was strange to think about how to beat him after coaching Carlos for eight years. That was a first.”
Ferrero believes Shelton has what it takes to challenge Alcaraz and Sinner but knows there’s still work ahead. “Shelton needs to get more organized, to know exactly which shot to use when,” Ferrero said. “With so many weapons and power, and such a strong serve, knowing the right move at the right time is key.”
With Ferrero already involved in Shelton’s coaching, he’ll get another shot at Alcaraz in Turin. They wouldn’t meet in the group stage but could face off in the semis. Alcaraz, who is dealing with a new issue just before the ATP Finals, also shared how it feels seeing Ferrero coaching someone else. “It’s going to be strange,” he said. “We haven’t seen each other for a while. I’ll give him a hug.”
Recent videos on ATP Spain’s X account showed the two reuniting at Finals practice in Turin, where Alcaraz gave Ferrero a warm hug. The Finals start with Alcaraz playing Frances Tiafoe on Monday, November 16, and Shelton facing Arthur Fils on Sunday, November 15.