Carlos Alcaraz just added another milestone to his already dazzling career, and this one comes at the expense of his own coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. The 21-year-old Spanish phenom claimed the 2025 ABN AMRO Open title in Rotterdam, and with that victory, he now holds more career ATP titles than Ferrero himself.
A Special First for Alcaraz: Conquering Indoor Hard Courts
Rotterdam marked Alcaraz’s debut at the ATP 500 event, and he arrived with a clear goal: to capture his first indoor hard-court title. After battling through a tough draw, the reigning Wimbledon champion faced Alex de Minaur in the final, overcoming the Aussie in three sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-2) to clinch the championship.
Alcaraz’s win was historic for multiple reasons:
- He became the first Spanish player ever to win the Rotterdam title.
- He claimed his 17th career ATP title—surpassing Ferrero’s total of 16.
- He continued his relentless pace of breaking records, despite being just 21 years old.
Alcaraz Surpasses Ferrero in Career Titles
With this victory, Alcaraz now officially has more ATP titles than his mentor and coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero—who was also a former World No. 1 but retired with 16 career trophies.
Though Ferrero wasn’t in Rotterdam to witness the feat firsthand, Alcaraz had secondary coach Samuel López guiding him from the player’s box. López’s presence proved enough, as Alcaraz delivered yet another clutch final performance.
A Coach-Student Legacy Unlike Any Other
Alcaraz and Ferrero’s partnership has been one of the most successful mentor-student relationships in modern tennis. Since linking up in 2019, the duo have:
✅ Won five of the same ATP titles.
✅ Seen Alcaraz match Ferrero’s World No. 1 ranking.
✅ Secured two Grand Slam titles together (US Open 2022, Wimbledon 2023).
The only major event where Ferrero still holds an edge? The French Open—a title Alcaraz has yet to conquer, but one that seems inevitable in his future.
What’s Next for Alcaraz? More Titles, More Records
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz’s pace of success is staggering. He’s already left his coach’s career total in the dust, and with the prime years of his career still ahead, the Spaniard is on track to rewrite tennis history.
One thing is clear: Juan Carlos Ferrero may have been a legend in his own right, but Carlos Alcaraz is building a legacy that could eclipse even the greatest names in tennis.