Can Alcaraz's ex-coach help Shelton challenge his former protege?

US Open runner-up Ben Shelton joins forces with Juan Carlos Ferrer, the former coach of Carlos Alcaraz – BBC Sport analyses why the partnership suits both parties. Juan Carlos Ferrero helped Carlos Alcaraz win six Grand Slam titles before they split at the end of 2025 Ben Shelton's name rarely cropped up when Juan Carlos Ferrero – the former world number one who nurtured Carlos Alcaraz to stardom – teased he was going to coach a new player. But there are obvious reasons why it suits both parties. For US Open runner-up Shelton, it is an opportunity to tap into a mind that knows how to win major titles and has the inside track on the world's very best.

Ferrero started working with Alcaraz when he was 15, turning his fellow Spaniard from a "piece of spaghetti" into a seven-time Grand Slam champion. Alcaraz is seen as the most naturally gifted player on the ATP Tour, having dominated the biggest tournaments alongside Jannik Sinner before their respective injuries this season. With explosive power and supreme athleticism, the 24-year-old American already possesses weapons which can inflict serious damage. The left-hander has been a fixture inside the world's top 20 for the past four seasons and reached his first Grand Slam final in New York two months ago. However, he has often