"My gut tells me someone like Carlos Moyá or David Ferrer": Could Carlos Alcaraz bring in big name to replace Ferrero?

The tennis world was stunned this week by the news that world number one Carlos Alcaraz has parted ways with his long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero — a move that Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson admit is almost unheard of at this stage of the season.

Speaking on an emergency midweek episode of the Nothing Major Podcast, Querrey and Johnson broke down the timing, possible reasons behind the split, and what could come next for Alcaraz as he prepares for the 2026 season.

“This just doesn’t happen in tennis,” Querrey said. “The world number one and his coach have split up. You do not see this happen, ever.”

Recording the podcast on a Wednesday, with the episode set to be released on December 19, Querrey acknowledged that speculation had already begun circulating — but stressed how unusual the timing was.

“Usually with the big-time partnerships — the Rogers of the world, the Rafas, the Novaks — they’ll kind of end things after a Slam,” Johnson explained. “Or somewhere where it’s like, ‘Hey, this is our last event together.’ This one kind of comes suddenly, in the middle of December.”

Johnson said the timing was particularly concerning given Alcaraz’s current position in the sport. “He’s had multiple Slams over the last couple of years, he’s number one in the world, and he has another opportunity to do something special in Australia by completing the career Grand Slam as the youngest person ever to do it,” he said. “So I just think it’s weird timing.”

While neither Querrey nor Johnson claimed to know the reason behind the split, both acknowledged that rumours had been circulating for some time. “You feel like there were a lot of rumours swirling over the last, I don’t know, 18 months,” Johnson said. “Watching maybe Carlos’s documentary, seeing the dynamic with Juan Carlos and Carlos, maybe clashing styles just a little bit.”

Despite any behind-the-scenes tension, Johnson was clear about the results of the partnership. “Their on-court performances were incredible. Bar none.”

Querrey echoed that uncertainty remains. “Some people think maybe Carlos’s dad and Juan Carlos had different visions. Some people think maybe they couldn’t get a contract together,” he said. “Who really knows?”

Ferrero himself appeared open to continuing, stating publicly that he “would have loved to continue,” while Alcaraz posted a heartfelt message thanking his coach for years of guidance.

“Alcaraz himself had a really nice post saying, basically, ‘Thank you for everything. You’ve been like a mentor to me and a coach since I was barely a teenager,’” Querrey noted. “They’ve done all these amazing things together. So it is shocking. It’s a bummer.”

With assistant coach Samuel López still part of Alcaraz’s team, Querrey asked the obvious question: will Alcaraz bring in another high-profile coach?

Johnson didn’t hesitate. “One hundred percent he brings somebody in,” he said. “My gut tells me someone like Carlos Moyá or David Ferrer, just keeping with the Spanish theme.”

Johnson pointed to the importance of experience at the very top of the game. “At this stage, there’s not a lot you’re changing technically. It’s more about managing the lifestyle and expectations of being number one in the world,” he explained. “Ferrer never won a Slam and was never number one, but he knows what it’s like to be a top-10 guy for over a decade.”

However, Johnson also suggested the door may not be fully closed on a reunion with Ferrero. “Let’s say Carlos has, by his standards, a lacklustre start to the season — is Juan Carlos back on the bag by Madrid if he doesn’t win Australia, Indian Wells, Miami?” he asked.

Despite the surprise split, both former players were emphatic about Ferrero’s impact on Alcaraz’s rise. “It takes an incredible amount of vision to see someone at 13, 14, 15 years old and know what they’re going to be in four or five years,” Johnson said. “Juan Carlos had that dialled in.”

Querrey agreed that while coaching at the very top level can sometimes be overstated, getting Alcaraz to this point was an extraordinary achievement. “At this stage in Carlos’s life, maybe coaching doesn’t matter as much,” Johnson said. “But getting him to this stage? That was amazing, what Juan Carlos and the whole team did together.”

Ultimately, Querrey believes the answers will come quickly once the season begins. “A lot will be explained over the first three months of the year,” he said. “Does he do well in Australia? Does he play Rotterdam again? How does he do in Indian Wells and Miami?”

If results dip, reconciliation could still be possible — but for now, the tennis world is left watching closely. “Huge news,” Querrey concluded. “You just don’t see this happen in the middle of the off-season with a guy who’s world number one.”

For now, both hosts agreed on one thing. “We’re wishing both of them the best,” Querrey said, “and we’ll see how it shakes out.”