Ferrero and López Named Coach of the Year at the 2025 ATP Awards

Juan Carlos Ferrero and Samuel López have been named Coach of the Year at the 2025 ATP Awards. It comes after they guided Carlos Alcaraz through a defining season that ended with him reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking. 

The Spanish duo oversaw a year in which Alcaraz combined elite results with visible growth in maturity, consistency, and mental resilience.

The award, voted for by fellow ATP coaches, recognises not just trophies but the complexity of managing performance across a full season. For Ferrero, it marks a historic milestone. Having previously won it in 2022, he becomes the first coach to claim the honour twice since the category was introduced in 2016. 

For López, who joined Alcaraz’s coaching team ahead of the 2025 season, it caps an immediate and seamless integration into an already successful setup. 

With the 2025 season complete, attention has already turned to the Australian Open, the first major tournament of 2026. Early markets have placed Alcaraz among the leading contenders, with odds currently listed at 12/5 to win the title in Melbourne.

Those odds reflect more than raw talent. They factor in a season that delivered eight tour-level titles, including Roland Garros and the US Open, as well as ATP Masters 1000 victories in Monte Carlo, Rome, and Cincinnati. 

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Of course, prices will inevitably shift as the tournament approaches. However, Alcaraz’s position near the top of the market underlines the confidence many have in both his form and the stability around him.

Alcaraz’s 2025 season statistics are the strongest of his career. He finished with a season-leading eight titles and a career-best 71 match wins, topping the ATP rankings by year's end. His clay-court campaign was particularly dominant, highlighted by those titles in Monte Carlo, Rome, and Roland Garros, along with a 22-1 record on the surface. 

Yet, the coaching team’s impact extended beyond results. The emphasis was on extracting maximum performance without draining motivation. This is a challenge Ferrero openly acknowledged as one of the hardest parts of elite coaching.

Despite the silverware, the season was not without difficulties. Early hard-court losses in Indian Wells and Miami tested Alcaraz’s confidence, particularly after a strong start to the year in Rotterdam. Ferrero and López identified this period as a psychological challenge rather than a technical one.

The response was increased communication. Rather than focusing purely on tactics, the coaching team leaned into open conversations, addressing frustration and pressure more as mentors than instructors. 

That approach paid off when Alcaraz arrived in Monte Carlo, where a title won without peak form became a catalyst for the rest of the season. 

Ferrero later described Monte Carlo as a “lightbulb moment”. Ultimately, it was a reminder that attitude and clarity can be as decisive as execution.

Balance was a recurring theme throughout the season. Ferrero is known for his structured, disciplined approach, while López brings a more relaxed, personable energy. Together, they created an environment that demanded commitment without becoming oppressive.

Both coaches stressed the importance of keeping the process enjoyable. Training intensity remained high, but joy and humour were treated as essential, not optional. For a young player carrying expectations at the very top of the sport, that balance proved vital.

Beyond titles and rankings, López highlighted Alcaraz’s emotional development as the most important step forward. After Monte Carlo, Alcaraz became more open about expressing how he felt, whether dealing with pressure, doubt, or expectation.

That openness strengthened trust within the team and helped Alcaraz handle the closing stages of the season, including the run to securing ATP Year-End No.1 in Turin. For López, being part of that moment ranked alongside winning a Grand Slam as a coach.

As the tour moves into 2026, Ferrero and López remain focused on sustaining hunger. Their stated goal is not to protect what Alcaraz has already achieved, but to keep his ambition growing.

The Coach of the Year award serves as a recognition of work already done, but it also reinforces a shared responsibility. Namely, to maintain motivation, clarity, and joy in an environment where standing still is rarely an option.