“There were protests… we collided due to Alexander Zverev’s lack of respect” – When Carlos Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero split with German
“There Were Protests… We Collided Due to Alexander Zverev’s Lack of Respect”: When Carlos Alcaraz’s Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero Split with the German
In a candid revelation that has resurfaced amid Alexander Zverev’s ongoing quest for a maiden Grand Slam title, Juan Carlos Ferrero—the coach of Carlos Alcaraz and former 2003 French Open champion—once described his brief and tumultuous partnership with Zverev as a collision born of “lack of punctuality and lack of respect for the team members.” The comments, made in a 2020 interview with Spanish media outlet 3iGuales and reiterated in subsequent discussions, highlight the stark contrast between Ferrero’s challenging eight-month stint with Zverev (July 2017 to February 2018) and his enduring, successful collaboration with Alcaraz, which began in late 2018 and has yielded 14 ATP titles, including three Grand Slams. Ferrero’s split with Zverev, after a period of “protests, stops, anger, and distractions,” underscores the personality clashes and professional differences that derailed what could have been a landmark union for the then-20-year-old German prodigy.
The Partnership: A Rocky Road to Nowhere
Ferrero’s tenure with Zverev commenced in July 2017, shortly after the German’s breakthrough 2017 ATP Finals run and Rogers Cup title under interim coach Ivan Lendl. The Spaniard, fresh from his own retirement in 2016, saw potential in Zverev’s raw power and baseline game, guiding him to a career-high No. 3 ranking and a 2017 ATP Finals semifinal appearance. However, the collaboration soured rapidly, lasting just eight months before an acrimonious parting in February 2018. Zverev, then 20, accused Ferrero of being “disrespectful,” while Ferrero countered with pointed criticisms of the German’s attitude and preparation.
In the 2020 3iGuales interview, Ferrero pulled no punches: “There were protests. Stops. Anger. Distractions. At the time, we collided due to his lack of punctuality and lack of respect for the team members, even though his father helped me a lot.” He elaborated on Zverev’s training habits: “Zverev was, for example, three hours on the court, but he could not perform quality training for an hour and a half.” Ferrero attributed this to Zverev’s youth and the “dizzying” effects of early success and wealth, noting the importance of environment: “Earning a lot of money when you are young can get you dizzy. At that time, the player’s environment and their role are key factors.”
The split was mutual but bitter, with Zverev later telling Bild in 2018: “Juan Carlos was disrespectful to me and my team.” Ferrero, reflecting in a 2022 Tennis Majors interview, contrasted it with Alcaraz: “It was a big decision to take. It was the opposite of what I lived with Zverev in the past. It wasn’t anymore a life of private jets and high standard hotels.”
The Contrast: Ferrero’s Success with Alcaraz
Ferrero’s pivot to Alcaraz in late 2018 proved transformative. The then-15-year-old Spaniard, raw and unproven, has since blossomed into a 22-year-old with 14 ATP titles, including three Grand Slams (2022 US Open, 2024 French Open, 2025 French Open). Under Ferrero, Alcaraz reached No. 1 at 19 (youngest since Nadal) and has a 67-7 record in 2025 alone, with eight titles. “Carlos is like another son to me,” Ferrero said in a 2024 Eurosport interview. “We grow together—he’s easy to work with, shares my goals.”
Ferrero credited the difference to Alcaraz’s “culture” and professionalism: “He understands what it means to be professional… we collided with Zverev because he didn’t.” Alcaraz, in a 2024 Netflix documentary, echoed: “Juan Carlos is family—he rebuilt me from the ground up.” Their partnership, now in its seventh year, has yielded a 90% win rate and four Slams, contrasting Zverev’s unfulfilled potential under Ferrero (one Masters 1000, no Slams).
Zverev’s Perspective: “Disrespectful” and a Missed Opportunity
Zverev, now 28 and a two-time Grand Slam finalist (2020 US Open, 2024 French Open), has reflected on the split as a “learning curve.” In a 2022 Bild interview, he said: “Juan Carlos was disrespectful to me and my team—things got personal.” Zverev’s career since: Four ATP Finals appearances, but no Slam, with his 2024 French Open final loss to Alcaraz (6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2) a poetic irony. “Alexander’s talented, but consistency eludes him,” Ferrero said in 2020. Zverev, coaching with his father Alexander Sr. since 2018, has climbed to No. 4 but admitted in 2024: “Juan Carlos pushed me hard—maybe too hard, too soon.”
The split’s legacy lingers: Zverev’s “lack of respect” label persists, while Ferrero’s Alcaraz success vindicates the change. As Alcaraz defends his 2025 French Open title, Ferrero’s “collision” with Zverev remains a cautionary tale of talent untamed.
| Coach-Player Duo | Duration | Achievements | Split Reason |
|——————|———-|————–|————–|
| **Ferrero-Zverev** | 8 months (2017-18) | 2017 Rogers Cup win; No. 3 peak | Punctuality, respect issues; “distractions” |
| **Ferrero-Alcaraz** | 7 years (2018-present) | 14 titles, 4 Slams; No. 1 at 19 | N/A (Ongoing) |
Ferrero’s “lack of respect” split with Zverev wasn’t acrimony—it’s the forge that shaped Alcaraz’s empire. Tennis’s what-ifs: Zverev’s untapped, Alcaraz’s unstoppable. The collision? History’s pivot.
