Carlos Alcaraz's former coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has refused to rule out working with the Spaniard's rival Jannik Sinner in the future.

Alcaraz announced he had split with Ferrero – who won the French Open as a player in 2003 – last week following seven years working together.

Ferrero started coaching Alcaraz when he was just 15 years old, with their partnership bringing 24 ATP Tour-level titles, including six grand slam triumphs. 

No reason was given for the split, though Ferrero said he wished he had been offered the chance to continue in a statement.

The 45-year-old believes he will need time to fully process the end of his time with Alcaraz before entering into a new partnership.

"We both need time to fully process this breakup. It's not something easy. Right now, I'm hurting," Ferrero said in an interview with Marca.

"These relationships are hard to walk away from overnight. There has to be a period of mourning. 

"And, above all, I imagine it will hurt when I see him playing in tournaments — that's when all the shared experiences will come back. I think it will take time."

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.

Gracias por haber hecho de sueños de niño, realidades. Empezamos este camino cuando apenas era un chaval, y durante… pic.twitter.com/D4GSxYsZUY

— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) December 17, 2025

When asked if he would consider working with Sinner's team in the future, Ferrero said: "I need two or three months to be calm and for the pain to pass. After that, if other possibilities arise, we'll consider them. 

"It is something I would have to think about. They're extraordinary players, but as I said before, now is not the time to think about something like that, or to say yes or no. 

"Right now, it's time to get through the difficult phase, because I still think about Carlos every day, and it's not the moment to think about others."

Alcaraz and Sinner faced off in three grand slam finals in 2025, with the Spaniard emerging victorious at Roland-Garros and the US Open either side of a defeat at Wimbledon.

Should Alcaraz win the first major title available to him in 2026, at the Australian Open, the 22-year-old will surpass his compatriot Rafael Nadal as the youngest man to win all four grand slam singles titles.