Ben Shelton has turned to the one coach in the sport who has spent years in a locker room with Carlos Alcaraz. On Sunday the American, a career-high world No. 4, confirmed that Juan Carlos Ferrero will join his team for the 2027 season, with the formal work beginning in the offseason.

“He is a great coach, one of the best in the world, who also reached number 1 as a player,” Shelton told TNT Sports in Paris. “I believe he can bring a lot of experience and wisdom to our team and make a significant difference in my career.”

Ferrero coached Alcaraz from his teenage years until the Spanish pair split in December 2025 after six majors together. Alcaraz has worked with Samuel López since the start of this season. Ferrero joins Shelton’s father Bryan on the American’s staff, rather than replacing him.

Alcaraz plays coy in Paris

The move was first flagged in the Spanish press on Sunday morning. Asked about it later that day in Paris, Alcaraz feigned ignorance.

Read also: Former Manchester City Star makes stunning exit promise ahead of Champions League reunion

“I haven’t seen that. I hear about it, not sure who said that. Until Ben or Juanki says that, I’m not gonna believe that,” he said at his press conference.

The confirmation arrived on Shelton’s own channels hours later.

“If it is true, I think it’s gonna be a great addition to Ben Shelton’s team, and I think Juanki is gonna do great,” Alcaraz added. “It’s gonna help him a lot to increase his level even more.”

Drawn into opposite pools in Turin

The timing is what makes the hire more than a 2027 story. Shelton has qualified for his second consecutive Nitto ATP Finals, running 15 to 22 November in Turin, and he and Alcaraz have been drawn in opposite round-robin pools.

Read also: Owomoyela backs Klopp to lift Germany

Shelton sits in the Björn Borg Group with Jannik Sinner and the newly crowned world No. 1 Alexander Zverev. Alcaraz leads the Jimmy Connors Group alongside Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur, according to the draw published by the ATP. The only way they meet in Turin is in a semi-final or the final.

They have one head-to-head point of reference from this season. Shelton beat Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the US Open in September before losing the final to Zverev.

Yahoo: an extra voice, not espionage

Even with Ferrero in the box, the premise of unlocked secrets has a short shelf life. Alcaraz’s game has been dissected on the ATP Tour for four seasons, and most of what Ferrero knows about his former student is now visible on every television feed. A Yahoo Sports analysis argued the real value for Shelton is not espionage but an extra elite voice on technique and tactics on the road.

What Ferrero does bring is specific: a former world No. 1 who turned a teenage Alcaraz into a six-time major champion. Shelton has already beaten Alcaraz once this year without that help. Any rematch in Turin would come no earlier than the semi-finals on 21 November.

Read also: Mads Pedersen gives new teammate unusual punishment after cheeky remark

Read also: Roglic lands in Taiwan without a 2027 team and retirement still on the table