Nadal left behind as Alcaraz coach sets ‘ambitious’ target that has eluded Djokovic, Federer & Nadal
nadal is named among the champions Samu Lopez invoked after setting an “ambitious” target once described as out of reach. Samuel Lopez, who took over as Carlos Alcaraz’s head coach this season, framed the objective as pushing for all four Grand Slam titles after Alcaraz completed the career Grand Slam at the Australian Open. The call comes amid a perfect start to the year for Alcaraz — unbeaten in 12 matches and lifting trophies including the Australian Open and Doha.
Target that eluded Djokovic, Federer and Nadal
Lopez has publicly described the calendar Grand Slam — winning all four majors in a single year — as a dream and a realistic aim for his player. “Carlos has already shown that he can win several Grand Slams in a year, so the dream would be to go for all four. It’s ambitious, but possible, ” Lopez said, adding that the priority is to “arrive at the Major tournaments in top form and compete for them. ” The coach framed the challenge as one that has eluded Djokovic, Federer and nadal, placing Alcaraz’s recent Australian Open victory as the springboard for a larger pursuit.
Split with Ferrero and the rise of Samu Lopez
The transition to Lopez at the helm followed Carlos Alcaraz’s split from long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world No. 1, acknowledged mixed feelings: “I was the first to encourage Samu to accept the job of coaching Carlos. He’s someone I trust completely, I’m very happy for him, and it makes me very happy and relieved to know that he’s aware of all the work that’s been done over the years. At the same time, seeing someone I trust so much coaching Carlos hurts a little, but I’m getting better at it. ”
Samuel Lopez credited Ferrero directly for his development as a coach. “I’ve also learned a lot from Juan Carlos as a player and from the time we spent together on the team. I always try to listen and take the best from every experience, ” Lopez said. Lopez officially joined the team as Alcaraz’s second coach in 2025 and the pair previously shared the ATP Coach of the Year Award; that shared history, Lopez said, eased his move into the head coach role this season.
What’s next for Alcaraz, Lopez and the Grand Slam chase
The immediate plan Lopez outlined centers on sustained preparation: intense pre-season work, focused training and arriving at majors in peak condition. “The first few weeks have been marked by Carlos’ total commitment to pre-season. He’s shown great focus, intensity in training, and a very open attitude to listening and accepting help. This shows his growth in maturity, ” Lopez said, noting the smooth adaptation from his prior role alongside Ferrero.
With Alcaraz’s career Grand Slam now complete and a 12-0 start to the year, the team will measure progress tournament by tournament while publicly keeping the calendar Grand Slam as an “ambitious” objective. The coming months will show whether that ambition can translate into the sustained wins across surfaces required to chase trophies that Djokovic, Federer and nadal have not collected in a single calendar year.
