Ben Shelton is reportedly set to appoint Juan Carlos Ferrero as part of his coaching team for the 2027 season, according to The Times. The move would reunite Ferrero with a leading young player after his split from Carlos Alcaraz at the end of 2025.
Speculation had surrounded Ferrero’s next coaching role, with French Open finalist Flavio Cobolli and Spanish prospect Rafael Jodar among the players linked with him. Ferrero said last month that he had reached an agreement with a player but did not identify him. He indicated that the appointment would be announced on 9 November.
Shelton, currently ranked No. 4 in the world, has worked with his father, former top-100 player Brian Shelton, throughout his career. The 24-year-old American is coming off a 40-17 season and reached a career-high ranking of fourth.
The report follows Shelton’s run to the US Open semi-finals, where he defeated Alcaraz in the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champion Alexander Zverev. Although Shelton is regarded as one of the strongest servers on tour, aspects of his rallying, return game and consistency have been identified as areas for improvement.
Ferrero coached Alcaraz from the age of 15 and helped guide him to six Grand Slam titles before their partnership ended. The former French Open champion also briefly coached Zverev in 2017.
Sources: Tennis365.