“I don't know if he'll be mentally ready to deal with the rest of his career”

Among those who have spoken out on the subject are Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal's former coach, Kiko Navarro, Carlos Alcaraz's first coach, and Feliciano Lopez, director of the Mutua Madrid Open.

Toni Nadal, on the news of the moment in tennis: “It was logical to continue”

All 3 expressed their surprise at the split between Alcaraz and Ferrero, especially since everyone was impressed by the work done by the Iberian coach. Nadal said it would have been logical to continue the collaboration between the two, but said the world leader's game would not be affected.

Obviously he surprised me, especially after such a good season. It was logical to continue, I'm surprised, because Alcaraz finished in 1st place in the world.

I understand that the decision was Carlos' because Ferrero said he wanted to continue, so I imagine the decision is not tennis related. Relationships in the world of tennis are difficult because the payer, i.e. the player, usually pays to hear what they want to hear.

From a tennis point of view, Carlos must be very satisfied with the work that Ferrero has put in all this time. I would have liked Ferrero to continue as I think he has done an excellent job. I wish they were together throughout their careers.

I don't think this will affect Alcaraz because he is a very good tennis player

– Tony Nadalquoted by Marca

24of titles won by Carlos Alcaraz with Juan Carlos Ferrero as coach, 6 of them coming in Grand Slam tournaments

Toni Nadal/Photo: Getty Images

Kiko Navarro, Alcaraz's first coach: “I would say the main coach will be Samu Lopez”

Kiko NavarroAlcaraz's first coach and a close family member, said he did not believe the decision belonged to the six-time Grand Slam winner. Also, the technician who trained Carlos from age 9 to 17, explained why he thinks Samu Lopez will be his new head coach.

I know a few things from his father a few months ago, but I don't think this is the right time to talk about it. We'll find out tomorrow. He is training at the club tomorrow. I saw him two days ago and he didn't tell me anything. Obviously, they handled everything with discretion and everything has a beginning and an end.

surprised me; if it had happened last year, I would have been even more surprised than this year. He caught me off guard. Obviously, I'm friends with the family and we talk about some things, but it's still a surprise.

It was more because of the circumstances surrounding the decision than the player himself. Carlitos is a supporter of his coaches. It was like that with me and I know it was like that with Juan Carlos, but there comes a time when, for reasons beyond his control and the sporting aspect, they made that decision.

Juan Carlos did a spectacular job; I worked with him for two years and there was little to criticize about him. The people who made the decision, not Carlitos, probably had their reasons, which I don't know yet.

I know that Alcaraz's father, who takes care of everything, admires Samu a lot and knows that he is a professional. It makes me a little sad that to train Carlos you seem to need a big name like Ferrero or Moya or Djokovic or Nadal. I don't think that's the case. After all, Carlos has to respect the coach.

In fact, Samu Lopez has more experience as a coach than Ferrero, which is normal because he has worked with Nico Almagro, Pablo Carreno and knows the circuit. He is a very modest person and an experienced professional so both I and Alcaraz's father see him as his main coach.

But I think one more person is needed, because the season is very long and involves a lot of travel. That person will probably be better known than Samu, but that doesn't mean he'll be the main one. I would say, without talking to his father, that the head coach will be Samu Lopez

– Kiko Navarroquoted by Punto de Break

280-65was Carlos Alcaraz's record during the time he was coached by Juan Carlos Navarro

Kiko Navarro, with Carlos Alcaraz/Photo: X (RNE Deportes)

Feliciano Lopez, disappointed: “It's too early to give up on such an important person”

A much broader statement on the subject belonged to former tennis player Feliciano Lopez, who expressed his disappointment at the split between Alcaraz and Ferrero. He also addressed rumors that this decision was made for economic reasons.

Lopez praised Alcaraz but expressed doubts about his ability to cope on the circuit without a coach like Ferrero. Like Navarro, the director of the Mutua Madrid Open is of the opinion that it was not the 22-year-old player who made the decision to no longer be coached by Ferrero.

I am sad and surprised. I think it's a little early for Alcaraz to stop working with Juan Carlos. Juan Carlos was the most important person in his career, next to his father. Even though Carlos has matured tremendously in the last year and a half or two, I think it is still too early to let go of such an important person who played a crucial role in his career

It's sad, on the one hand, and frankly, I didn't expect it. I am aware of the possible tensions that may have existed between them. The player-coach relationship is very difficult, because they spend many hours together and it is not easy. Things happened that always happen in a relationship like that, but I honestly don't think any of the reasons that have been floated over the years – different opinions, academies or little misunderstandings – caused this breakup. I think it was a surprising decision, honestly.

I insist: I think it's a little early in Carlos' career to not have Juan Carlos by his side. It will be very difficult for him to find a person who can adapt to his life, to his surroundings, to living in Murcia, because it will not be easy at all to find a coach who meets all the qualities that Juan Carlos has.

Feliciano Lopez, Davis Cup Finals Director/Photo: Imago Images

Feliciano Lopez: “The tandem Samuel – Juan Carlos worked perfectly. The problem of separation was not there”

I'm leaning more towards an economic issue. But I don't know the details. I read various opinions talking about this. If that's the case, I think it's a shame. I think Juan Carlos deserves to be paid as the coach of the best player in the world.

Percentages? Normally, a tennis player pays 10% of the net prize money, i.e. 10% of the amount left over after tax. But with players like Carlos, when you get to a level where you're making $19 million in prize money alone, that percentage drops considerably. We can talk about 5%. These are, by and large, the parameters in the world of tennis. Then there are also atypical chords. You have to evaluate what that person means to you and pay them based on that and your income.

In this case, Juan Carlos is the person who, along with his father, trained Alcaraz in terms of tennis. And it helped him immensely mentally. I insist, it's a little early. I don't know if Carlos will be mentally prepared to deal with the rest of his career, or at least in the short term, without the figure of Juan Carlos. It's my opinion and that's why I'm a little sorry.

I have a lot of faith in Carlos. He's the greatest talent I've seen since the Big 3. I don't mean that now Carlos Alcaraz is going to start losing because Juan Carlos is no longer with him. However, I think at this point in his career, it's still a little early. Juan Carlos' work goes far beyond the role of a simple coach. There are players who, by nature, are perhaps more ready for a change of coach, routines and methods, adapting more quickly, while others are not. I think their relationship was very well built and they understood each other perfectly.

He played all the roles. The relationship between a coach and a player is almost like that of a father and a son. It is the person with whom you spend the most hours of your life. Especially since they started when Carlitos was very young (14 years old) and his influence was enormous. The most difficult task of a tennis coach is to train a player from a young age.

I have had 4 or 5 coaches in my professional career. In my case, I was the one who always made the decisions to give up a coach or hire another. In the case of Carlos, I think he is still not making these decisions. That's my opinion. He's surrounded by a team he has a lot of confidence in and I think he's still not making those kinds of decisions. In the short or medium term, he should start taking them. But I doubt it was actually Carlos who decided he no longer wanted to continue with Juan Carlos.

It is normal for a trainer to miss tournaments and share the calendar with other technicians. The life of a tennis coach is full of sacrifices. As mentioned, Juan Carlos has three children. Work involves the roles of coach, father, psychologist and friend. It's the person the player spends the most time with, which is very demanding. This causes many top coaches to share the calendar with a second coach, such as Sinner and many other examples. It is something common because of the sacrifice of being away from home most of the year. But I think that was nowhere near the reason why the relationship broke up. The Samuel – Juan Carlos tandem worked perfectly, Samuel being Juan Carlos' trainer for life and knowing him very well. The problem of separation did not stop there

– Feliciano Lopezquoted by Mundo Deportivo

Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz PHOTO Guliver/GettyImages