Carlos Alcaraz has already etched his name among tennis’ elite, becoming a four-time Grand Slam champion and a former world No. 1—all before turning 22. Much of his rise has been credited to long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, but the Spaniard’s support team has recently expanded.
In December 2024, veteran coach Samuel Lopez officially joined Alcaraz’s coaching staff, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success.
A Seasoned Mentor: The Career of Samuel Lopez
While Lopez’s own playing career was brief, his coaching résumé is impressive. He began by assisting Ferrero’s former coach, Antonio Martínez Cascales, and eventually forged his own path as a head coach. Over the years, Lopez has worked with several notable players, including Guillermo Garcia Lopez, Santiago Ventura, and Mariusz Fyrstenberg.
However, he is best known for his nine-year collaboration with Pablo Carreno Busta. During that time, Carreno Busta achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 10, won seven ATP titles—including the 2022 Canadian Open—and reached the US Open semi-finals in both 2017 and 2020. He also claimed a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
That partnership came to a close at the end of 2024, paving the way for Lopez to join Alcaraz’s corner.
Building on Familiar Ground
Lopez’s connection with Alcaraz predates their formal partnership. Thanks to his ties with Ferrero, Lopez was already involved in key moments of Alcaraz’s rise.
He was on Alcaraz’s coaching team during his breakthrough win at the 2022 Miami Open—Alcaraz’s first Masters 1000 title—and was also present during the Spaniard’s triumph at the 2023 Queen’s Club Championships. Additionally, Lopez stepped up during the 2024 Australian Open when Ferrero was recovering from knee surgery.
A New Chapter in 2025
Despite facing some criticism during the early stages of the 2025 season, Alcaraz currently leads the ATP Race to Turin and has already collected two titles this year: his first-ever indoor championship in Rotterdam, and his sixth Masters 1000 crown at Monte Carlo.
Lopez played a pivotal role in both runs, acting as lead coach in Ferrero’s absence.
Speaking to Eurosport, Lopez emphasized the team’s focus on helping Alcaraz develop his on-court identity.
“We’ve worked on Carlos being clear about what he needs to do—his routines, attitude, staying grounded. It’s less about the tennis and more about building Carlos as a complete player,” Lopez said.
“He’s still young, but with every experience, he’s learning more about who he is on the court. We’ve taken an important step forward.”
What’s Next?
Alcaraz heads into a crucial stretch of the season with confidence, particularly during the clay court swing where he has minimal points to defend before his French Open title defense. Beyond Roland Garros, he’ll aim for a third straight Wimbledon crown.
All eyes are now on how the Lopez-Ferrero-Alcaraz trio continues to evolve as the tennis season intensifies.
