Another long-term coaching partnership ends on the ATP Tour after Alcaraz–Ferrero split

Another breakup has rocked the ATP tour in the last few hours, after Grigor Dimitrov confirmed his separation from his long-term coach Dani Vallverdu, just a day after the news broke regarding the split between Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero.

The Bulgarian is preparing for the 2026 season with significant changes to his team. A few weeks ago, he had already ended his relationship with Jamie Delgado, the British coach who joined Jack Draper's team at the beginning of October.

Vallverdu—a Venezuelan coach—served as Dimitrov's main coach between 2016 and 2019. He was the team leader when the Bulgarian won his first Masters 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open and the ATP Finals that same year, reaching a career-high ranking of World No. 3.

They separated following a slump in 2019. Vallverdu then went on to work with three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka for several years until 2022, when he rejoined Dimitrov's team, this time partnering with Jamie Delgado, formerly Andy Murray's coach.

The former World No. 3 experienced a career renaissance alongside the Delgado-Vallverdu duo, returning to the Top 10 and reaching major finals such as the Paris Masters and the Miami Open, standing out at the top of the rankings despite being one of the veterans among the top players.

However, this Thursday, Dimitrov confirmed via social media that he is parting ways with Vallverdu—adding to Delgado's earlier exit—leaving Dimitrov without a confirmed coach for the moment. “Eight years! It’s been an incredible journey with you on and off the court,” posted Dimitrov on his Instagram stories. “Grateful for the lessons, the laughs, and the memories we’ve shared. Thank you for believing in me and pushing me to be my best. You’ll always be part of my story. Wishing you all the best in your next adventure!”

The 2025 season did not go as Dimitrov had hoped, with injuries frustrating what looked to be a great campaign following an impressive 2024 that saw him return to the Top 10. The Bulgarian reached the semifinals of the Miami Open and the quarterfinals in Monte-Carlo during the first part of the year, but injuries gave him no respite—issues that had already complicated his runs at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2024.

In 2025, he retired mid-match in the first round of the Australian Open (trailing 5-7, 1-2 against Passaro), then suffered the same fate in Dubai (trailing 0-6, ret. against O’Connell) and at Roland Garros (leading 6-2, 6-3, but trailing 2-6, ret. against Ethan Quinn). He arrived at Wimbledon wrapped in cotton wool after several weeks out of competition, yet managed to find a high level of tennis in SW19, reaching the fourth round.

It was there that he crossed paths with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Dimitrov had the Italian on the brink of elimination, dominating the duel 6-3, 7-5, 2-2, when he suffered a pectoral injury that forced him to retire, giving a lifeline to Sinner, who advanced to the quarterfinals after fortuitously surviving a difficult rival.

For the fifth consecutive Grand Slam, Dimitrov was forced to retire due to injury—something unprecedented for any player in the Open Era. This time, recovery took months. He missed the North American swing, including the US Open, and was only able to return in late October at the Paris Masters—four months after his last match. There, he defeated Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round but ended up withdrawing before taking the court for the second round against Medvedev following a new physical relapse.

Dimitrov ended the year with a sharp drop in the rankings to World No. 44. For the first time since 2013, he will contest the Australian Open without a seed, exposing him to a complicated draw from the very first rounds. Now 34 years old, the Bulgarian will seek to reclaim his position among the world's best this year and rediscover his physical form. For now, he has no confirmed coach to join his team.