Ben Shelton Adds Juan Carlos Ferrero to His Coaching Team
Ben Shelton has added Juan Carlos Ferrero to his coaching team, and the former world number one will work alongside the American's father, Bryan, who is still his coach. BBC Sport reported the news, and Shelton confirmed it on social media.
Ferrero is a familiar name in tennis. He won the 2003 French Open, one of the four Grand Slams, the sport's biggest tournaments alongside the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. He also started coaching Carlos Alcaraz when Alcaraz was 15. That partnership ended in December last year.
Shelton is 24 and ranked world number four. The left-hander, whose serve comes from an unusual angle for many opponents, reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open in New York two months ago. On the way he beat Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. He lost the championship match to Alexander Zverev.
Shelton's most recent result was a shock. ATP Tour noted that he lost in Basel last week to Jerome Kym, who is ranked 222nd in the world.
The plan is for Ferrero to attend 10 to 12 tournaments next season, including all four Grand Slams. He and Shelton will begin working together formally during an off-season training block in the United States. The off-season is the quiet stretch between seasons when players focus on fitness and preparation. Ferrero will also watch Shelton in person at the ATP Finals in Turin next week, the season-ending event for the sport's best players.
Shelton said he put Ferrero at the top of his list when he considered bringing in another coach. He called Ferrero "one of the great minds in tennis." Ferrero, for his part, said Shelton has "extraordinary talent, power and character." Shelton's social media post was short and upbeat: "Huge addition to my team for this upcoming season!"
Ferrero has coached at the top level before. He worked with Zverev for six months, and that spell ended after Zverev lost in the third round of the 2018 Australian Open. Ferrero has not discussed terms with any other player, according to the reports.
Bryan Shelton is a former professional who won two ATP titles, so the family will stay at the centre of Ben's team. The new arrangement will be tested in 2027, when Ferrero and the two Sheltons work together over a full year.
