“I’m worried Alcaraz will end up quitting tennis like Borg did”
Former tennis player Marion Bartoli analyzed the Alcaraz-Ferrero split on her RMC Sport podcast: “If things don’t work out, I think he’ll call him again.”
The tennis world is still buzzing over one of the biggest stories of recent weeks: the surprising split between Carlos Alcaraz and longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, a partnership that helped shape the young Spaniard into one of the sport’s brightest stars.
Ferrero’s departure has raised plenty of questions about how Alcaraz will perform without the coach who guided him from the start of his pro career. And now, a Grand Slam champion is weighing in.
Es muy difícil para mí escribir este post… Tras más de siete años juntos, Juanki y yo hemos decidido poner fin a nuestra etapa juntos como entrenador y jugador.
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) December 17, 2025
Gracias por haber hecho de sueños de niño, realidades. Empezamos este camino cuando apenas era un chaval, y durante… pic.twitter.com/D4GSxYsZUY
Borg retired in 1983 aged 26
On her RMC Sports podcast, former Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli expressed concern about the breakup — and even drew a dramatic comparison to Björn Borg’s early retirement.
“I’m worried about the split between Alcaraz and Ferrero, but not overly,” Bartoli said. “Alcaraz has exceptional qualities and can start fresh, but he still needs a foundation. What concerns me is that if he struggles without Ferrero, he could end up walking away from tennis the way Borg did at 26. Alcaraz is a genius, and I don’t want that to happen. I want him to play for a long time.”
The ATP's final prize money numbers for 2025 are out and 🇪🇸 Carlos Alcaraz tops the list with $21,354,778. 💰🎉
— TENNIS (@Tennis) December 24, 2025
The 22-year-old also surpasses $60 MILLION in CAREER PRIZE MONEY, the first tennis player born since 2000—or even 1990—to hit that milestone:https://t.co/1CeInbJyH9
The next six months could define everything
Bartoli believes the first six months of Alcaraz’s new partnership with coach Samuel López will be crucial in determining whether the relationship has long‑term potential — or whether Alcaraz eventually returns to Ferrero, something she thinks is entirely possible.
“The first six months with Samuel López will be a trial‑and‑error process,” she explained. “If things don’t work out, and if Sinner wins the Australian Open and Roland Garros, I think Alcaraz will call Ferrero back immediately. That seems obvious.”
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