Toni Nadal says shock Alcaraz-Ferrero coaching split was “not about tennis”

The fallout continues after one of the biggest tennis stories of the week broke on Wednesday, with world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz parting ways with longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero after seven successful years together.

The news came as a surprise, arriving on the heels of the best season of the 22-year-old’s career—highlighted by two Grand Slam titles and a return to the top of the ATP rankings—and just weeks before the 2026 Australian Open.

Read More: Carlos Alcaraz announces shock split from longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

But according to Toni Nadal, the uncle and former coach of 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, the reasons behind the shock split “go beyond tennis.”

“It surprised me,” Nadal said, speaking to Spanish radio on Onda Cero. “I wasn’t expecting it, especially after such a great season from both of them, with Carlos finishing as world No. 1 and winning two Grand Slams. I think (the news) surprised everyone.”

Nadal coached his nephew Rafa for most of his career, overseeing his rise to world No. 1 and numerous Grand Slam titles. Their partnership was built on direct, often blunt communication, and Nadal reportedly never took a salary. He stepped away from Rafa’s team in 2017 and later took on other coaching roles, including a stint with Felix Auger-Aliassime.

He believes coaching becomes significantly more complicated once money enters the equation.

“Relationships between players and their coaches are difficult in all sports, but even more so in tennis,” he explained. “The player is the one who is paying, and he’s usually paying to hear what he wants to hear.”

Read More: Carlos Alcaraz moved up with Juan Carlos Ferrero—now, he moves on without him

Nadal drew parallels between Ferrero’s partnership with Alcaraz and his own relationship with Rafa. Nadal began coaching his nephew when Rafa was just three years old, while Ferrero started working with Alcaraz at 14.

At the beginning, Nadal said, the dynamic is simpler: the player is a child and so the coach naturally makes all the decisions. As the player matures, however, the desire for independence grows, and the balance of power inevitably shifts—sometimes contentiously.

“It seems to me like it was Alcaraz who made the decision, because Ferrero made a statement saying he had wanted to continue,” Nadal added. “So I think the reason is not about tennis. I’m not sure if it could be about finances, I imagine it’s not, so it has to be a reason that goes beyond tennis.

“I don’t think it was a tennis issue, because tennis-wise Alcaraz has to be satisfied with the work Juan Carlos has been doing all this time.”

Alcaraz and Ferrero concluded their partnership with 24 titles, including six Grand Slams, and with Alcaraz once again sitting atop the ATP rankings after a standout 2025 season.

Still, early signs of tension emerged at the start of the year following the release of a Netflix documentary that exposed apparent cracks in the relationship. Viewers saw Alcaraz seemingly chafing under Ferrero’s strict demands, as well as the increasing pressures of off-court commitments such as sponsorships and commercial appearances.

Read More: Carlos Alcaraz opens up about THAT Juan Carlos Ferrero scene in Netflix documentary

Relationships between players and their coaches are difficult in all sports, but even more so in tennis. The player is the one who is paying, and he’s usually paying to hear what he wants to hear. — Toni Nadal

The team pushed past the criticism and delivered one more unforgettable season before Alcaraz announced the abrupt split via social media on Wednesday.

“I would have loved for Juan Carlos would have stayed all his career,” Nadal said. “He’s done a great job with Alcaraz… But when a player makes a decision like that, there must be a reason.

“But I don’t think this will affect him much, because Alcaraz is a good player.”

According to reports in the Spanish press, Alcaraz has appointed assistant coach Samuel López as his temporary head coach. López joined the team ahead of the 2025 season after previously coaching Pablo Carreño Busta from 2015 to 2024, a partnership that yielded seven ATP titles and an Olympic bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.