Ben Shelton Appoints Former Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero for 2027 Season
The world number four has added the renowned tactician to his coaching team alongside his father, Bryan.
American tennis player Ben Shelton has announced that Juan Carlos Ferrero, the former world number one who previously guided Carlos Alcaraz to stardom, is joining his coaching staff for the 2027 season. Shelton shared the news on social media, expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming collaboration as he prepares for the next phase of his career.
Ferrero will work alongside Shelton's father and current coach, Bryan. The partnership brings together an astute tactician known for demanding discipline and focus with a 24-year-old left-hander who possesses explosive power and supreme athleticism. Ferrero plans to cover 10 to 12 tournaments next season, including all four Grand Slams, starting with an off-season training block in the United States.
Shelton has established himself as a fixture inside the world's top 20 over the past four seasons and reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open two months ago. During that tournament run, he showcased an improved backhand and better defensive skills before ultimately falling to Alexander Zverev in the championship match. Despite his success, which included winning a career-best four titles in 2026, Shelton has occasionally struggled with consistency against lower-ranked opponents, such as a recent defeat to Jerome Kym in Basel.
Ferrero earned widespread acclaim for turning Alcaraz into a multi-time Grand Slam champion after starting to work with him at age 15. Following the sudden end of his partnership with Alcaraz last December, Ferrero evaluated several options before deciding to team up with Shelton, whom he praised for having extraordinary talent, power, and character.
The integration of Ferrero into a father-son coaching dynamic presents a unique challenge. Ferrero previously experienced a brief coaching stint with Alexander Zverev that ended amid friction in 2018. However, Shelton's strong work ethic and desire to win are expected to help him absorb Ferrero's tactical guidance without losing the raw weapons that define his game.
Veterans of the sport note that while Ferrero's expertise will be valuable, refining Shelton's technical inconsistencies will be a demanding task. Renowned coach Rick Macci pointed out that at the highest levels of tennis, margins are razor thin, and improving areas like the backhand groundstroke will require significant effort as Shelton aims to reach the summit of the sport.