TURIN, Italy. Carlos Alcaraz and his former coach Juan Carlos Ferrero are expected to reunite on Saturday, November 14, during the ATP Finals in Turin, nearly a year after ending one of modern tennis’s most successful coaching partnerships. The encounter will take place around a scheduled practice session between Alcaraz and American player Ben Shelton, who has recently appointed Ferrero to his coaching team.
The anticipated reunion carries considerable personal significance. Ferrero guided Alcaraz from his teenage years to the top of professional tennis, helping him win six Grand Slam titles and establish himself among the sport’s leading competitors before their separation in December 2025.
Their last tournament together was the 2025 ATP Finals, making Turin a particularly meaningful setting for their first reported meeting since the split.
Ferrero has publicly expressed his desire to reconnect with Alcaraz and his former team, acknowledging that their professional separation required time and emotional distance. He has emphasized that the respect and affection developed throughout their collaboration remain intact.
The former world No. 1 now begins a different professional challenge alongside Shelton and the American’s father and longtime coach, Bryan Shelton. The partnership is intended to strengthen the 24-year-old player’s development as he pursues further success at the highest level.
Alcaraz has responded positively to the appointment, expressing confidence that Ferrero’s experience and technical knowledge will benefit Shelton. His reaction suggests that their professional separation has not eliminated mutual appreciation.
Nevertheless, the circumstances surrounding their departure remain largely private. Neither has publicly provided a comprehensive account of the disagreements that ended their collaboration.
The planned training session introduces an additional competitive dimension, as Shelton and Alcaraz are established rivals on the ATP Tour. Ferrero’s new responsibilities could eventually place him in an opposing coaching box during matches involving his former pupil.
For Alcaraz, the immediate priority remains his performance at the season-ending championship. For Ferrero, Turin provides an opportunity to begin reconnecting with professional tennis while preparing for his new coaching assignment.
Whether their reunion produces a public conversation or simply a private greeting remains uncertain.
Beyond the sporting implications, the encounter illustrates how relationships between elite athletes and their coaches can evolve after professional partnerships end, preserving years of shared achievement even as their competitive paths diverge.
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