Deadspin: Shelton Adds Carlos Alcaraz’s Former Coach to His Team for 2027

A New Coaching Partnership

Shelton and Ferrero confirmed their plans in social media posts on Sunday. Ferrero will join Shelton’s team for the 2027 campaign. Shelton praised Ferrero’s tennis knowledge and experience developing champions. Ferrero said he was pleased to work with Shelton, Bryan and the rest of the team.

Shelton’s Career Progress

The 24-year-old Shelton has worked only with his father, Bryan, since turning professional four years ago. Bryan, a former ATP player, also coached him for two seasons at the University of Florida.

Shelton won four titles in his best season on tour, including the Canadian Open, an ATP Tour 1000 event. He reached the U.S. Open final, where he lost to Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the current world No. 1.

Ferrero’s Work With Alcaraz

Ferrero, 46, coached Carlos Alcaraz from 2018 through 2025. Their partnership included 24 ATP Tour titles for Alcaraz, among them six Grand Slam championships. The Spaniards split in December 2025. Alcaraz won the 2026 Australian Open six weeks later, with Samuel Lopez coaching him in Melbourne and continuing alongside him through that season.

Shelton’s Upcoming Schedule

An Alcaraz wrist injury interrupted his partnership with Lopez for much of the spring and summer. The injury kept Alcaraz out of the French Open and Wimbledon; he returned at the U.S. Open and reached the quarterfinals, where Shelton beat him in five sets.

Shelton has attained a career-best world ranking of No. 4 and qualified for the ATP Tour Finals in Turin, Italy. Before that event, he is set to play the Paris Masters as the No. 3 seed against Great Britain’s Cam Norrie on Tuesday.