A Surprise Partnership Takes Shape
David Ferrer had plenty of suitors after announcing he would step down as Spain's Davis Cup captain following the 2026 season. Speculation ran hot that the former world No. 3 would link up with one of Spain's brightest young talents, either Carlos Alcaraz or the rising Rafael Jodar. But Ferrer has apparently gone in an entirely different direction. Eurosport Spain reports that Ferrer has agreed to coach Norwegian veteran Casper Ruud starting in the 2027 season, with an official announcement expected once the Davis Cup Finals conclude. Alcaraz, for his part, chose to continue working exclusively with Samuel Lopez after parting ways with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, while Jodar has continued to thrive with only his father guiding him courtside.
Ruud Looking to Rediscover His Best
For Ruud, the timing of this collaboration feels significant. The Norwegian reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 back in 2022 after a stunning run to the US Open final, and he has also appeared in two Roland Garros finals, in 2022 and 2023. Yet his ranking has slipped to No. 18 during the 2026 campaign, and he has not claimed an ATP title in nearly a full calendar year. His last trophy came at the Stockholm Open during the previous season, a tournament he is now defending this week (November 8 to 14). There are reasons for optimism, though: Ruud reached the Italian Open final on clay this year and has pushed deep into the Paris Masters draw. Ferrer's own coaching resume includes a spell with Alexander Zverev from 2020 to 2021, and his intensity and tactical knowledge could be exactly what Ruud needs to climb back up the rankings. TennisDraw users will be watching closely to see whether this pairing shifts their bracket predictions heading into the 2027 Australian Open.
