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Four-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters has shared her thoughts on Ben Shelton hiring Juan Carlos Ferrero as his new coach, admitting she was very surprised by the unexpected partnership.
A Surprising New Partnership
Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz ended their successful seven-year coaching partnership in December 2025, after which Alcaraz continued working with Samuel Lopez. Ferrero has since been away from the ATP Tour, but he is now preparing for a return alongside world number four Ben Shelton.
Speaking on the Love All Podcast, as reported by sports.yahoo.com, Kim Clijsters admitted her initial reaction to the news. “I was very surprised like a lot of people,” the Belgian tennis legend stated, adding that she immediately wondered how the dynamic would function and whether Ferrero would only be present for specific weeks of the season.
Clijsters pointed out the potential challenges of being coached by a parent, noting that combining personal and professional relationships is difficult. Ben Shelton has spent the majority of his adult life working with his father, Bryan Shelton, who served as Head of Men’s Tennis at Florida State University before leaving in 2023 to become his son’s full-time coach on the Tour.
The Benefits of a Fresh Voice
Clijsters highlighted the advantages of introducing an external figure into the team. “To have someone there [Ferrero] who is a fresh voice and you can maybe absorb things from a bit better or in a different way is always good,” she explained, drawing parallels to her own family experiences and the frustrations that can sometimes arise between relatives on the court.
The former champion praised Bryan Shelton for being open to sharing coaching responsibilities, noting that many coaches prefer to keep exclusive control over their players to avoid sharing the spotlight. Clijsters believes Ferrero’s background as a former world number one, 2003 French Open champion, and disciplined product of the Spanish system will bring valuable structure to Shelton’s game.
Clarifying her remarks, Clijsters emphasized that she was not calling Shelton undisciplined, but rather pointing out the balance between his natural playfulness and knowing when to keep it under control, an area where she expects Ferrero to help.
Shelton’s Paris Masters Campaign
On the court, Ben Shelton advanced to the second round of the Paris Masters after defeating Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday. Norrie previously defeated Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 tournament.
Shelton will next face French home favorite Arthur Rinderknech, who reached the 2025 Shanghai Masters final. Rinderknech won their only previous encounter in straight sets at the 2025 Queen’s Club Championships.
The winner of the match between Shelton and Rinderknech will advance to face either Tommy Paul or Quentin Halys in the third round. Halys secured his spot after defeating Frances Tiafoe in three sets, a result that puts Tiafoe’s ATP Tour Finals qualification hopes in jeopardy.
