What does Ben Shelton gain by hiring Carlos Alcaraz’s former coach?

For weeks, Carlos Alcaraz’s former coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero (JCF), has teased that he will returning to the ATP Tour to coach a rival player.On Sunday, the same day that Alcaraz won the Vienna Open, the news dropped that Ben Shelton is adding JCF to his team for 2027.JCF will not be replacing Shelton’s longtime tennis coach and father, Bryan Shelton. He will be added to the team. This should make for an interesting dynamic since the elder Shelton has always been in the driver’s seat.MORE: Did a pre-match decision derail Ben Shelton’s US Open title hopes?How Shelton benefitsTennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 13, 2026 Ben Shelton of the U.S. in action during his final match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Robert Deutsch Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters (Reuters)A major addition to Team Shelton 🔥 Former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero is set to join Ben’s team in 2027, working alongside his father and longtime coach, Bryan Shelton. https://t.co/eq9USqL2FA— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 1, 2026Having another voice will help Shelton, who has enjoyed a successful year and his first time Grand Slam final appearance. He can enhance his game, adding skills and techniques to take him to the next level.The only question mark is how everyone will work together. Traditionally, when a parent is a player’s coach, he or she stays in the role or vacates the role for a new coach to take the helm. A recent successful example is Coco Gauff whose father was the main voice until a few years ago. He now supports her from afar at matches in typical anxious parent mode.MORE: Victoria Azarenka shares personal observation about Ben Shelton and his dad, Bryan SheltonWill JCF give away Alcaraz trade secrets?JCF knows Alcaraz’s game inside and out and can advise tactics, but most people know Alcaraz’s game from his years on the ATP Tour.A major addition to Team Shelton 🔥 Former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero is set to join Ben’s team in 2027, working alongside his father and longtime coach, Bryan Shelton. https://t.co/eq9USqL2FA— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 1, 2026Trade secrets are hardly a factor in match wins and losses. Execution is what makes the difference. Shelton is 1-3 in career head-to-head matches against Alcaraz, earning the first win in this year’s epic US Open quarterfinal.Shelton, 24, is the ATP World No. 4 player. He is very close to the top of the game so the strategy of hiring a successful coach of JCF’s caliber is a wise one to help him get over the Grand Slam hump. The biggest surprise is that JCF is not coaching a Spaniard. Spanish tennis is a tight-knit group so many thought he would join Rafael Jodar’s team. The other unfounded rumor was that Sinner would add JCF to replace the retiring Darren Cahill; Sinner in recent days has added newly retired Swiss player Stan Wawrinka’s coach, Magnus Norman.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —