Russian tennis great Yevgeny Kafelnikov did not mince words when asked about the end of Carlos Alcaraz’s long partnership with Juan Carlos Ferrero. Speaking in an interview, Kafelnikov framed the split less as a coaching or performance issue and more as a cautionary tale about the dangers of outside influence. His comments touched on the sensitive role parents can play in the careers of elite athletes, even after their success at the highest level.
Yevgeny Kafelnikov Points to Parental Interference As the Core Issue of the Carlos Alcaraz-Juan Carlos Ferrero Split
In an interview with Clay magazine, Kafelnikov was asked directly whether letting Ferrero go was a mistake. “The biggest mistake is when parents interfere in the process,” he said. “I don’t know Carlos’s father’s background, but I’ve never liked it when someone does that.”
Drawing from his own career, the former world No. 1 explained how he handled such situations. “For example, in my family, I was the one who made all the decisions. My father never interfered in how much money I paid a coach or whether I bought this or that.”
Kafelnikov then addressed reports of friction within Alcaraz’s camp. “From what I’ve heard, there was a big argument between Juan Carlos and Carlos’s father.” He added that these scenarios rarely end well for players. “I’ve always said that these kinds of situations ultimately have a negative impact on the player when parents interfere.”
Kafelnikov closed with a note of disappointment, not accusation. “Carlos is a grown man; he’s the one who can make all the decisions now. I don’t know why he didn’t just say to his father, ‘Look, it’s my business. We’ve been very successful together, we won many Grand Slams, we made a lot of money…’ That part disappoints me a little.”
Why Was the Alcaraz-Ferrero Partnership Considered One of Modern Tennis’ Best?
The Alcaraz-Ferrero partnership has been central to the Spaniard’s meteoric rise. Alcaraz joined Ferrero’s academy in 2018 as a raw but gifted teenager, and the results came quickly. Under Ferrero’s guidance, he transitioned from Futures and Challenger tournaments to the ATP Tour elite in just a few seasons in just a few seasons. By 2021, Alcaraz had secured his first ATP title, reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, and won the Next Gen ATP Finals.
The following years only reinforced the strength of the collaboration, with Alcaraz becoming the youngest men’s world No. 1 after winning the US Open in 2022, adding Wimbledon in 2023, and Roland Garros in 2024. Over the course of their time together, Alcaraz collected six Grand Slam titles, eight Masters 1000 crowns, and multiple stints at the top of the rankings, making the eventual split all the more surprising.
Alcaraz confirmed on Dec. 17 that he and Ferrero had mutually agreed to part ways. Continuity was maintained, with Ferrero confidant Samuel López taking over day-to-day coaching duties late in 2024.
Reports indicated that the decision was linked to contract talks and differing visions, rather than results. While there was speculation about renegotiated terms and possible internal tensions, nothing was confirmed, and both sides described the separation as respectful.
Ferrero recently addressed the end of the partnership, explaining that disagreements over principles and contractual conditions were ultimately behind his separation from Alcaraz.
