The 2025 season delivered a plethora of memorable matches and unexpected breakthroughs that kept fans thoroughly engaged. Beyond the on-court drama, several high-profile players, including Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz, made coaching decisions that sent shockwaves through the tennis fraternity. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the most surprising developments involving players and their coaching teams in 2025.
Jannik Sinner Rehiring Umberto Ferrara and Extending the Stint With Coach Darren Cahill for 2026
One of the unexpected collaborations of 2025 involved World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, who rehired fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara during the North American hard-court swing in August. Ferrara had previously left Sinner’s team last year, five months after the Italian tested positive for clostebo. Sinner attributed that to accidental contamination via an over-the-counter spray purchased by Ferrara and passed on to physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.
Both Ferrara and Naldi were dismissed in the aftermath, making Ferrara’s return a shocking development a year later. Sinner had explained that he hired Ferrara because he knew his body better.
Another significant development from Sinner’s camp was the extension of his successful partnership with Australian coach Darren Cahill. Despite initially planning to retire at the end of 2025, Cahill confirmed he will stay in Sinner’s corner for at least one more season, following an agreement struck at Wimbledon, symbolically sealed after the Italian’s triumph.
Elena Rybakina Reappointing Stefano Vukov As Her Coach
Elena Rybakina’s relationship with coach Stefano Vukov has long attracted attention, and one of the most shocking developments of 2025 was her decision to rehire him. The WTA handed Vukov a one-year coaching ban in early 2025 following an inquiry into verbal abuse, which led to a provisional suspension and a prohibition on any form of communication with Rybakina.
Throughout the investigation, the Kazakh consistently denied the allegations and stood by her former coach. After Vukov’s successful appeal cleared him to return just before the 2025 US Open, Rybakina reinstated him as her primary coach.
Novak Djokovic Parting Ways With Andy Murray
Just three months after drawing the curtain on his career at the 2025 Paris Olympics, Andy Murray found himself embarking on a new chapter by joining forces with former rival Novak Djokovic.
Murray joined Djokovic’s coaching team in November 2024, a stint that saw the Serb reach the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International, the semifinals of the Australian Open, and the final of the Miami Open. However, the partnership proved short-lived, ending on May 13, 2025, after just six months, a conclusion that surprised many.
Naomi Osaka Hiring Iga Swiatek’s Former Coach After Split With Patrick Mouratoglou
Another surprising split involved former World No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who parted ways with renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou less than a year after he joined her team in September 2024.
While the Japanese star struggled to find sustained momentum under the Frenchman’s guidance, she did enjoy flashes of success, reaching the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland before going on to lift the title at the WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo
Osaka did not wait long to move on after parting ways with the Frenchman in July, beginning practice sessions with Tomasz Wiktorowski ahead of the Canadian Open. The renowned coach, best known for his three-year stint with Iga Świątek, initially joined on a trial basis but quickly made an impact, guiding Osaka to the final in Montreal, later to the semifinals of the US Open, and her return to the top 20.
Carlos Alcaraz Parting Ways With Longtime Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero
The end of this partnership came as a complete surprise. Under Juan Carlos Ferrero’s guidance, Carlos Alcaraz enjoyed a meteoric rise, winning his maiden Grand Slam at the 2022 US Open and becoming the youngest year-end World No. 1 in history that same season.
Ferrero had been by Alcaraz’s side since he was 15, overseeing a remarkable haul of 24 tour titles, including six Grand Slams. Even in 2025, Alcaraz continued to thrive, capturing eight titles, two of them at the Major level.
Alcaraz made the decision public through an online statement, soon followed by a message from Ferrero himself. Both were candid in acknowledging the difficulty of the separation. However, persistent disagreements during negotiations, combined with the absence of direct communication, ultimately led to the split, according to Ferrero.
Gilles Cervara’s Split With Daniil Medvedev and Nishesh Basavareddy Collaboration
Another shocking development in 2025 was Daniil Medvedev’s split with longtime coach Gilles Cervara, a partnership that defined the Russian’s rise. Under Cervara’s guidance, Medvedev won the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals, captured his maiden Grand Slam in 2021, and reached World No. 1 in 2022. Cervara, named ATP Coach of the Year in 2019, oversaw Medvedev’s first two ATP Masters 1000 titles that season. Their partnership ended earlier in August, catching many by surprise.
Interestingly, just months after parting ways with Medvedev, Cervara embarked on a new challenge, taking on the development of the young American Basavareddy, at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah. The youngster indeed impressed under his guidance and finished as a semifinalist.
Coco Gauff Bringing Gavin MacMillan in Place of Former Coach Matt Daly
American tennis star Coco Gauff often commands the spotlight, and one such moment came when she parted ways with coach Matt Daly just days before the US Open. The World No. 3 had added Daly to her team in late 2024, during which he helped her win the WTA Finals in Riyadh and capture her second Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
However, amid a prolonged title drought and persistent serving issues, Gauff ended her partnership with Daly and brought in biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan to refine her serve.
Learner Tien’s Partnership With Michael Chang
Rising American tennis star Learner Tien teamed up with tennis legend Michael Chang as his coach in mid-2025, a partnership that rapidly elevated Tien’s game. Under Chang’s guidance, Tien captured his first ATP 250 title in Metz, reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam, and finished the year with a career-high ranking of World No. 28.
He also enjoyed a standout triumph at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, cementing his status as one of the tour’s most promising young talents. The collaboration took root during the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, after an initial introduction in Hong Kong. Since then, Chang has offered vital guidance and strategic advice, working alongside Tien’s longtime coach Erik Kortland and his father, Khuong Tien, to further sharpen his game.
