Ben Shelton appoints Juan Carlos Ferrero alongside father Bryan

Ben Shelton has appointed Juan Carlos Ferrero to work alongside his father and current coach, Bryan, adding Carlos Alcaraz's former coach to his team. BBC Sport reported the agreement on Monday, with the world number four preparing to begin formal work with Ferrero during an off-season training block in the United States.

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Ferrero is expected to attend 10-12 tournaments next season, including all four Grand Slams. Before that programme begins, he will watch Shelton in person at next week's ATP Finals in Turin. Shelton said Ferrero's experience of winning major titles and developing successful players would strengthen the team, while Ferrero praised the American's talent and said he looked forward to helping him pursue his ambitions.

The appointment follows Shelton's first Grand Slam final, at the US Open two months ago. The 24-year-old beat Alcaraz in the quarter-finals before losing the championship match to Alexander Zverev, who has since become world number one. Shelton has collected seven ATP Tour singles titles, including successive Canadian Open Masters 1000 trophies in 2025 and 2026.

Shelton has spent the past four seasons inside the world's top 20, but his most recent tournament brought an early setback. He lost to Swiss world number 222 Jerome Kym in Basel last week. The coaching addition comes after a season that has included both that defeat and his breakthrough appearance in a major final in New York.

Ferrero, a former world number one and the 2003 French Open champion, began coaching Alcaraz when the Spaniard was 15. He helped Alcaraz win six Grand Slam titles before their partnership ended in December 2025. According to BBC Sport, Ferrero had exploratory conversations with several leading players and younger prospects about returning to coaching, but Shelton was the only player with whom he discussed terms.

Bryan Shelton, a former professional who won two ATP singles titles, will remain part of the coaching arrangement. Ferrero has previously worked in a team involving a player and his father: his six-month spell with Zverev ended after the German's third-round exit at the 2018 Australian Open. His new role adds another coach rather than replacing Shelton's existing family partnership.