Juan Carlos Ferrero details the emotional challenges of watching Carlos Alcaraz compete at a distance

The successful partnership between coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and tennis player Carlos Alcaraz came to an end at the end of the 2025 season, but the emotional consequences of the separation are still a reality for the former number one in the world. In a recent interview, Ferrero, 45, spoke openly about the difficulty of following his former pupil’s career from afar, describing watching the games on television or from the stands as a mere spectator as a complex experience.

The decision to end the professional cycle was justified by Ferrero as a personal need to seek new challenges after years of intense dedication to the ATP circuit. Atualmente, he directs his expertise to golf, where he works on the mental preparation of the athlete Ángel Ayora, applying the same high-performance principles that took Alcaraz to the top of the world rankings.

While Ferrero adapts to a new routine, Alcaraz, at 22, continues to show impressive form at Australian Open 2026. The young Spaniard advanced to the tournament’s semi-final without dropping a single set, a feat his former mentor notes with a mixture of pride and nostalgia for the journey they have built together.

The complex adaptation away from the court

For Juan Carlos Ferrero, the transition from a mentor present at all times to an outside observer has been a process of constant psychological adjustment. Ele confessed that the feeling of not being in the player’s box during matches, especially in Grand Slam tournaments, is deeply strange and requires a new perspective on his role in the sport. The travel routine, the development of pre-game strategies and direct communication during training were replaced by a distant analysis, which, although it brings a certain relief from the constant pressure, also creates a void. Ferrero highlighted that seeing the new technical team occupying the space that was theirs for so many years causes mixed feelings, but that admiration for the level of excellence maintained by Alcaraz outweighs any personal discomfort. Ele sees the young tennis player’s continued success as the main validation of the groundwork that was meticulously built throughout the partnership, a legacy that remains solid even in his physical absence.

Feelings about being absent from the professional circuit

Watching Carlos Alcaraz compete at a high level without being directly involved in game strategy represents a drastic change in Ferrero’s routine. The former world number one confessed that the feeling of not being physically present in the technical stands is strange, especially given the history built together.

He reinforced that seeing the entire structure set up for the athlete and not being part of the immediate decisions requires constant psychological adaptation. The mentee’s recent success at Melbourne Park, however, serves as a validation of the work accomplished over the past few years of partnership.

Strategic transition to the world of professional golf

Juan Carlos Ferrero’s migration to golf was not just a leisure choice, but rather a professional move structured to help young talents. Ele revealed that the opportunity arose after conversations with coach Juan Ochoa, allowing him to delve into the preparation of Ángel Ayora’s team.

The main focus of this new stage is improving the mental aspect, a characteristic that Ferrero considers fundamental in a sport as precise as golf. The experience accumulated in Grand Slam’s achievements and in managing extreme pressure is the great difference that Ferrero takes to the fields.

He believes that golf requires psychological control very similar to that of tennis, where every mistake can cost victory in fractions of a second. Esta testing phase has been enjoyable for the former athlete, who was already an amateur practitioner of the sport.

Mental challenges and permanence in the sporting environment

Tennis continues to be the fundamental basis of Ferrero’s life, who does not intend to abandon the sport permanently. Ele maintains activities at its academy at Espanha, serving as a support point for new talents looking to follow paths similar to those of Alcaraz.

The former coach mentioned that he still receives several inquiries to return to the main circuit, showing that his prestige in the international market remains intact after the cycle with Alcaraz.

The pause in constant international travel was one of the determining factors for the change of scenery after the Turim tournament last November. Ferrero understands that the emotional exhaustion of training an elite player requires periods of absence so that technical creativity can be renewed.

In golf, he finds a different rhythm of competition, allowing for a more external and less physically taxing analysis, while continuing to contribute to the development of high-level athletes.

Alcaraz performance from a new technical perspective

Carlos Alcaraz’s overwhelming performance at Australian Open 2026 confirms that the athlete has reached early maturity. Ferrero made a point of publicly congratulating his former pupil, highlighting that the level of play presented is one of the highest in the 22-year-old’s career.

For the original mentor, the evolution of Alcaraz is a source of personal satisfaction, even if the distance brings an occasional load of melancholy. Advancement to the semi-finals after the dominant victory over Alex of Minaur puts Alcaraz in an absolute prominent position for the season.

Maintenance of technical identity and professional future

Ferrero does not rule out a return to the tennis courts in a leadership role in the future, but reiterates that the current moment belongs to his growth in golf. The versatility demonstrated when moving between elite modalities reinforces the image of a talent manager capable of adapting winning methodologies.

The proposals coming from both the ATP and WTA circuits indicate that the market sees Ferrero as a professional capable of transforming careers. Ele deals with these options with serenity, prioritizing the mental balance that he preaches so much to his advisors.

Perspective on golf as a training tool

Choosing golf allowed Ferrero to explore nuances of sports psychology that often go unnoticed at the speed of tennis. Ele explained that thinking time between golf shots requires superior mental resilience, something he tries to impart to his new students. Essa exchange of experiences directly benefits the way he sees the preparation of athletes, accumulating knowledge that could be valuable in an eventual return to tennis.