Ben Shelton Hires Juan Carlos Ferrero as Coach
The top-ranked American tennis player will work with the former Carlos Alcaraz coach starting in the 2027 season.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Tennis
Ben Shelton added Juan Carlos Ferrero to his coaching team for the 2027 season, with the two confirming the partnership in social media posts on Sunday. Shelton has previously been coached only by his father, Bryan, during his four years as a professional.
Why it matters
The move brings a coach with a record of Grand Slam success to the top-ranked American player at a time when he is pursuing bigger titles. Ferrero's track record with Carlos Alcaraz makes the partnership a notable step in Shelton's development.
Ferrero coached Alcaraz from 2018 to 2025, a stretch in which Alcaraz won 24 ATP Tour titles including six Grand Slam championships. Shelton, 24, won four titles in his best season on tour, including the Canadian Open, and reached the U.S. Open final.
The players
Ben Shelton
The 24-year-old American is the top-ranked U.S. tennis player and reached the final of the U.S. Open, where he lost to Alexander Zverev.
Juan Carlos Ferrero
The 46-year-old former tennis player coached Carlos Alcaraz from 2018 to 2025, guiding him to 24 ATP Tour titles and six Grand Slam championships.
The details
Shelton and Ferrero confirmed the partnership in Instagram posts on Sunday, with Ferrero sharing a graphic on the platform. Shelton has been coached solely by his father, Bryan, a former ATP pro who also coached his son at the University of Florida for two seasons.
Timeline
December 2025: Ferrero and Alcaraz parted ways.
2026 Australian Open, Melbourne: Alcaraz won the title six weeks after the split.
Sunday, November 1, 2026: Shelton and Ferrero confirmed the partnership.
Tuesday: Shelton faces Cam Norrie at the Paris Masters as the No. 3 seed.
2027 season: Ferrero joins Shelton's coaching team.
Season Trajectory
Ferrero's move follows his December 2025 split with Carlos Alcaraz, who won the 2026 Australian Open six weeks later. The partnership shifts the competitive picture for an American player seeking to challenge the sport's top tier.
Fantasy and betting players tracking Shelton's results will see his coaching change take effect for the 2027 season rather than immediately. Shelton's qualification for the ATP Tour Finals in Turin means his schedule and seeding will matter for viewers following the event.
The takeaway
Coaching changes can reshape a player's trajectory, and Shelton's choice to bring in a coach with a proven Grand Slam record signals his focus on bigger titles. Readers following the sport can watch how the partnership shows up in his results over the 2027 season.
What happens next
Shelton plays Cam Norrie at the Paris Masters on Tuesday and has qualified for the ATP Tour Finals in Turin, Italy.
Further reading
Explore more Tennis coverage for context on the sport's leading players and coaching changes.
