Juan Carlos Ferrero, the former world number one who guided Carlos Alcaraz to stardom, has unexpectedly joined forces with American tennis star Ben Shelton. The partnership offers Shelton an opportunity to tap into championship-winning expertise as he aims to close the gap on the world’s elite players.
A New Challenge for Ferrero and Shelton
Ferrero spent years transforming his fellow Spaniard Alcaraz into a seven-time Grand Slam champion after they began working together when Alcaraz was 15. Guiding world number four Shelton presents a distinctly different assignment for the 45-year-old coach. The 24-year-old American already possesses immense explosive power, supreme athleticism, and has remained a fixture inside the world’s top 20 for four seasons, recently reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open two months ago.
Despite those strengths, Shelton has often fallen short against the very best. Although he defeated an undercooked Alcaraz in the New York quarter-finals, he lost the championship match to Alexander Zverev. While his tournament run benefited from an improved backhand and better defensive skills, failing to execute his damaging forehand in crucial moments proved costly against Zverev. Shelton has also suffered unexpected defeats against lower-ranked opponents, such as a loss to Swiss world number 222 Jerome Kym in Basel, highlighting a need for greater consistency.
Ferrero, who will work alongside Shelton’s father and current coach Bryan, is known as a sharp tactician who demands focus and intensity. He will likely push the fiery American to play smarter and calmer to maximize his natural weapons. “Juan Carlos is one of the great minds in tennis,” Shelton said, as reported by sports.yahoo.com. “His experience of winning at the highest level and developing champions will be a huge asset to our team.”
The Road Ahead and Past Experience
Ferrero won the 2003 French Open as a player but became widely known to younger audiences for his successful partnership with Alcaraz. Following their sudden split in December last year, Ferrero used a recent book to build his reputation as a supercoach before deciding to return to the ATP Tour. After holding exploratory talks with several players, he ultimately entered serious discussions only with Shelton, who had placed Ferrero at the top of his coaching wishlist.
The new partnership will see Ferrero cover 10 to 12 tournaments next season, including all four Grand Slams. The pair will officially begin working together during an off-season training block in the United States, though Ferrero will observe Shelton on site at the upcoming ATP Finals in Turin. “Ben has extraordinary talent, power and character,” Ferrero stated, according to sports.yahoo.com. “I’m looking forward to contributing my experience and working together with everyone to help Ben achieve his ambitions.”
A key factor in the partnership’s success will be how Ferrero gels with Shelton’s father, a former professional player who secured two ATP titles. Ferrero previously experienced a troubled six-month coaching stint with Alexander Zverev that ended in 2018 after Zverev dismissed him, later claiming the coach lacked respect for his team, while Ferrero felt the German lacked professionalism. However, Shelton is known for a strong work ethic and a fierce will to win, traits that should make him receptive to strict demands.
Veteran American coach Rick Macci, who guided the Williams sisters during their teenage years, believes that improving Shelton’s technical flaws will prove difficult. “Shelton can win a few Slams if things break his way,” Macci said, as reported by sports.yahoo.com. “His backhand groundstroke and return can be technically unpredictable – at the top of the mountain the margins are razor thin. Ferrero can help a lot in many areas because [Shelton’s] backbone is better than his backhand, but getting to number one is a different landscape to mow.”
The coaching duo will kick off their collaboration on site at next week’s ATP Finals in Turin.
