After his unexpected separation from Carlos Alcaraz in December 2025, Juan Carlos Ferrero has gone rogue with his next pupil.

Ferrero took a 15-year-old Alcaraz under his wing and then helped transform him into arguably the best player on the planet. The Spaniard won his first Grand Slam aged just 19 and then five more before their separation at the end of last year.

The 23-year-old's incredible success during their seven years together meant their split was a surprise. Alcaraz's father questioning Ferrero's management was said to be one reason for their split, but since then, many tennis fans have speculated who he will be linking up with next, and the answer is Ben Shelton.

Juan Carlos Ferrero is set to link up with Ben Shelton

As first reported by The Times, Ferrero has picked out Shelton as the man he will partner with for 2027 after spending most of this season away from the ATP Tour.

The 46-year-old will look to turn the American from the nearly-man to a serial winner when they work together, having watched him come agonisingly close to winning his first Grand Slam.

Shelton lost in the US Open final to Alexander Zverev in September after beating Alcaraz in the semi-final, while winning the Canadian Open in August and reaching the Australian Open quarter-finals.

In a mixed 2026 for the ATP world No. 4, those three tournaments were the only times he made it to the last eight of a Grand Slam or Masters 1000 event this year, meaning he is severely lacking in consistency.

Ferrero will closely follow Shelton's progress at the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals before joining his camp and helping him kick on in 2027.

A link-up between the Spaniard and the US Open finalist creates an exciting scenario for tennis fans, who will hope to see him beat the big three, Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev, to major titles.

It also remains to be seen how the team dynamic will work, as the 24-year-old has been coached by his father, Bryan, for most of his career.

Why Juan Carlos Ferrero has gone rogue with Ben Shelton link-up

Ferrero linking up with Shelton brings an end to months of speculation over who the next pupil would be, and to many, it is arguably a surprising appointment.

It was widely expected that Ferrero would link up with a Spanish speaker after guiding Alcaraz to success. But Shelton - who was born in Atlanta, Georgia - doesn't speak the language, which suggests he has gone rogue with his selection.

That is unlikely to have a bearing on his success under a new coach, having struck the perfect blend with the team he has alongside him. Ferrero, a former world No.1, brings elite playing and coaching experience, while his father, Bryan, knows his son better than anyone.

Indeed, successfully striking a solid partnership could hold the key to unlocking the next level in his game and getting him consistently competing for the sport's major honours.