Juan Carlos Ferrero will return to coaching on the pro tennis tour in 2027, according to the man himself. The Spaniard spoke with Spanish media outlet Movistar+ during a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Elche at Manuel Martínez Valero Stadium in Elche on Tuesday.
“This year, I’m very relaxed,” Ferrero said, translated from Spanish. “I’m enjoying my family and preparing for what’s coming next year. I think I’m going to come back on the tennis tour, but I can’t say with whom.”
The former world No. 1 may not be able to say at this point, but speculation is already running rampant. Here are some of the potential candidates:
Jannik Sinner
The Ferrero-Sinner rumor has been raging ever since Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz ended their seven-year partnership in December of 2025. It has only picked up steam on the heels of Tuesday’s revelation. Sinner already has a big team behind him, so this linkup would only make sense if coach Darren Cahill retires. Cahill initially said that he would leave Sinner’s team at the end of 2025, but the Aussie ultimately decided to come back for 2026. Presumably this season is Cahill’s last ride, but nothing has been confirmed. If Cahill does exit stage right, Ferrero would be an ideal replacement.
However, the Sinner-Alcaraz dynamic cannot be dismissed. Even though hiring any available coach is obviously fair game for any player, Sinner and Ferrero joining forces after Alcaraz and Ferrero worked together for so long could create a real rift between the two biggest rivals in tennis. Sinner and Alcaraz seem to have a very solid relationship off the court, and any unnecessary tension between the two is not what either one needs as each man continues to chase greatness.
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Rafael Jodar
Jodar’s current team consists of his dad. That’s it; that’s the list. At least, his dad is the only traveling member who is present in the box during matches. No other coach, no physio, no agent, no PR person (even though he might need one!). It goes without saying that even though his dad is clearly a great coach in his own right, the 20-year-old has room to make another addition.
Ferrero would make perfect sense as a fellow Spaniard. The 46-year-old already has an illustrious history of taking a young compatriot (Alcaraz) from the start of his career to the absolute peak of the sport. There is no reason why he could not do it again with Jodar, who has already climbed all the way to No. 14 in the world after starting 2026 at No. 168. Sinner may be the favorite to land Ferrero, but Jodar is my choice. It’s the one that makes the most sense to me.
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime split from longtime coach Frederic Fontang in July following Wimbledon. In a recent interview, the Canadian said he would be ready to announce a new coach in the near future. That kind of timeline would align well based on what Ferrero said earlier this week.
This is a partnership that would also make some sense. Ferrero is a no-nonsense coach who has had a history of frustration with pupils’ lack of work ethic — most notably Alexander Zverev in the early stages of the German’s career. Even Alcaraz’s decision to go on vacation after Wimbledon every year instead of getting right back to training was a sore subject for Ferrero. There would probably be no such issues with Auger-Aliassime, who is one of the hardest workers and dedicated players in the game. As the No. 5 player in the world, FAA is someone who can compete for a Grand Slam title but seemingly needs someone new in his corner to help him take the next step. Ferrero could be enticed by that kind of prospect.
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