Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz is set to embark on a new phase of his career, with his elder brother Álvaro Alcaraz Garfia stepping in as coach at certain upcoming ATP events, while primary coach Samuel López takes a temporary step back. In the wake of the development, former American stars John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Steve Johnson weighed in with an intriguing take on Álvaro on their podcast.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Brother Álvaro Meets ‘Fantastic’ Demand From John Isner and Other Former Pros
Alcaraz could not have scripted a better start to his 2026 season, lifting the Australian Open trophy to claim the one Grand Slam that had previously eluded him. The triumph made him the youngest man of the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam and marked his seventh major title overall.
Moreover, that was also his first since parting ways with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Since Ferrero’s departure, Lopez has taken charge as the Spaniard’s primary coach, while Alcaraz’s elder brother Álvaro has remained a constant figure in his inner circle as a trusted hitting partner. During the Australian Open, Alcaraz also revealed that Álvaro would take on an expanded role, offering guidance in a coaching capacity as well.
Notably, this unique development was recently discussed on the Nothing Major podcast by Isner, Querrey, and Johnson. Querrey, a former No. 11, started the discussion, saying, “Speaking more about Carlos, his older brother is going to step up into more of a coach’s role as he announced… Maybe we can get his brother on the pod. We don’t go for Carlos. We get brother,” he said.
Isner then chimed in, backing fellow podcast host’s suggestion, saying, “I think we can. It’s a good call. I love his brother.” Johnson added, “We should get Alvaro.”
After Sam Querrey reiterated the idea of inviting Álvaro onto an episode, Steve Johnson chimed in with his own take. Johnson suggested that having Álvaro around at smaller tournaments could ease pressure, keep things enjoyable, and prevent Alcaraz from becoming overly intense or disengaged during lower-stakes ATP 250 events.
“It’s a good idea to have the brother there. Maybe some of those smaller weeks cuz then he’ll keep it more fun. You don’t want to be so tennis focused at like a 250 that he doesn’t want to be at,” he said.
Isner agreed, saying, “That’s actually fantastic.” Querrey chimed in, “I don’t think Carlos playing 250.”
In response, Johnson implied that Alcaraz is strong enough to win smaller events without his full coaching team, suggesting his brother’s presence could keep things relaxed while still delivering results. “I am just saying if he’s there you don’t need to bring the A squad. Bring the brother, line up a couple good dinners, he can sleepwalk his way to a title.”
Carlos Alcaraz is the second eldest of four brothers, all raised in a tennis-centric household. While Álvaro no longer competes professionally, he remains a key figure in the world No. 1’s setup as a hitting partner and frequent travel companion. The third brother, Sergio, has charted a different path, pursuing a career in soccer and representing Real Murcia’s youth team since 2024.
Meanwhile, the youngest, Jaime, is emerging as a promising tennis talent, having captured a Rafa Nadal Tour title in Madrid in the under-12 category in 2023.
