Former world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov suggested a significant disagreement between Carlos Alcaraz's father and coach Juan Carlos Ferrero led to their recent split. Kafelnikov cited parental interference as a common pitfall for young athletes, implying it negatively impacted Alcaraz's partnership with Ferrero. Alcaraz, who had a highly successful 2025 season, announced the separation before the 2026 season, sparking speculation about the reasons behind the parting.