Carlos Alcaraz's coaching team set for seasonal shake-up

Veteran coach Samuel Lopez - who mentored Pablo Carreno Busta for nine years as he helped the Spaniard to peak at No 10 in the ATP Rankings - is now part of the Alcaraz set-up and it will give Ferrero a bit more freedom to skip certain tournaments.

The former world No 1 missed Alcaraz's Australian Open campaign last year, but he will take charge at this year's season-opening Grand Slam.

Lopez, though, will take over for the four-time Grand Slam winner's European hard-court campaign and the Sunshine Double before they split duties again for the clay-court season.

In an interview with Punto de Break, Lopez disclosed details about the "mapped out" plan.

"We have the planning done, but I can't tell you off the top of my head (laughs)," he said. "Juan Carlos will start the year in Australia, and then I do Rotterdam and I think Dubai.

"Then they will go to Indian Wells and Miami; when the clay court season starts, I will take over, but for example, tournaments like Barcelona or Madrid, we will probably share. At Roland Garros and Wimbledon, we are both there.

"I start the American tour, and Juan Carlos joins in at the US Open. In the Asian tour, we will split a couple of tournaments each. I have it all more or less mapped out in my head."

But there is no doubt about who is in charge as Lopez insisted this does not mean that Ferrero wants to take a step back.

"Juan Carlos is very involved; he is very happy and motivated with the project and the team," Lopez said.

"The idea is for him to continue being the head coach, the boss. Even though he says we are on the same level, the reality is different (laughs). I am very close to him, almost at the same level, but Juan Carlos is the one in charge."

Carreno Busta reached two US Open semi-finals and won seven titles - including the 2022 Canadian Open - under Lopez's stewardship.

Asked what he will add to the team, he replied: "On one hand, emphasise many of the things that Juan Carlos already tells him, but said in a different way.

"Both of us aim at the same path; that's non-negotiable. I can also add some motivational speech; here the interesting part is that each one has their character.

"Of course, the experience I've had with other players like Pablo [Carreno Busta], Nico [Almagro], or Juan Carlos [Ferrero] himself. I know I can provide a different type of approach in training, always aiming for the same goal."

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