MADRID, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 tennis player Carlos Alcaraz announced on Wednesday that he has ended his seven-year partnership with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

The 22-year-old Spaniard began working with Ferrero when he was 15. Under Ferrero's guidance, he rose to the top of the rankings and won six Grand Slam titles and 22 tournaments in total.

"We have been able to climb to the top and I feel that if our sporting roads have to separate, it should be when we are at the highest point - that point we always for and always hoped to reach," explained Alcaraz in a communique published on social media.

Spanish sports paper Diario AS reported that Samuel Lopez, who has previously coached Pablo Carreno Busta, will be Alcaraz's new coach as he prepares for the Australian Open at the start of 2026. ■