Reports have emerged that Carlos Alcaraz's team considered a significant coaching change at the end of 2024, with Andy Murray being a prime candidate to replace Juan Carlos Ferrero. However, this potential partnership was disrupted when Novak Djokovic surprisingly recruited Murray to his coaching team ahead of the 2025 season.

The news follows Alcaraz's recent split with Ferrero, his coach of seven years, who guided him to six Grand Slam titles and the World No. 1 ranking. While the split was announced earlier this month, sources indicate that tensions had been brewing for some time.

According to Spanish journalist José Morón of Punto de Break, Alcaraz's inner circle felt that Ferrero's strict and rigid approach was becoming incompatible with Alcaraz's instinctive and sometimes casual style. This difference in work philosophy led Alcaraz's team to explore alternative coaching options. Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, emerged as a strong possibility due to his tactical understanding of the game, mental fortitude, and previous expressions of interest in coaching Alcaraz.

The end of the 2024 season saw Alcaraz struggle with form, including a second-round exit at the US Open and a group-stage elimination at the ATP Finals. These results amplified the concerns within Alcaraz's camp regarding the management of his career. Despite Ferrero's team encouraging Alcaraz to persevere, his inner circle believed the issues stemmed from Ferrero's overall management style.

However, Murray's availability as a coach was short-lived. Just as Alcaraz's team was considering approaching him, Djokovic secured Murray's services to bolster his own coaching setup. Murray's tenure with Djokovic was brief, ending in May 2025 after a run of underwhelming results, including a loss to Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Despite missing out on Murray, Alcaraz and Ferrero agreed to continue their partnership for another year, with Samuel Lopez joining the team as an assistant coach in late 2024 to ease tensions. Lopez reportedly provided Alcaraz with more freedom, aligning better with the expectations of the player's family. Following the split with Ferrero, Lopez has stepped in as the interim head coach.

The potential collaboration between Alcaraz and Murray remains an intriguing "what if" scenario in the tennis world. While Murray is now unattached, it is unknown whether Alcaraz will pursue this option again as he searches for a permanent head coach. For now, Samuel Lopez will continue to guide Alcaraz as he looks to build upon his already impressive career.