Juan Carlos Ferrero has reiterated that there is no tension between him and Carlos Alcaraz following their split. The former world No. 1 made it clear that the decision to end their seven-year partnership was taken by Alcaraz’s inner circle, emphasizing that the separation came without any personal issues between the two.

On Wednesday, December 17, Carlos Alcaraz confirmed via social media that his coaching partnership with 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero had come to an end. As speculation quickly followed about the reasons behind the split, Ferrero addressed the situation in an interview with Marca, where he clarified the true cause and put an end to the surrounding rumors.

Ferrero has now spoken publicly for a third time since the split. In his latest interview with Sports Radio Gazette, the former World No. 1 revealed that while he has not yet spoken with Alcaraz, the two will continue their relationship as friends moving forward.

I’ve learned so much from Carlos. He’s a kid who exudes incredible charisma. He is always very loyal, very honest, he always tells the truth, he is very hardworking. And I’m leaving happy because when all this settles down, I’m sure we’ll keep talking, reminiscing about many of the things we experienced together, and we’ll remain friends.

Carlos Alcaraz began working with Juan Carlos Ferrero at just 15 years old at Ferrero’s tennis academy. One year later, Ferrero officially joined his team as head coach, and over the following seasons, Alcaraz rose to World No. 1, capturing 24 tour-level titles — including six Grand Slams: two US Opens, two French Opens, and two Wimbledon crowns.