Andy Roddick reacts to Ben Shelton hiring Juan Carlos Ferrero as his coach, ‘this is a big challenge’

Is Juan Carlos Ferrero the man to take Ben Shelton’s game to the next level?

Shelton will certainly hope so after hiring the experienced Spanish coach for the 2027 ATP campaign.

Ferrero, the 2003 Roland Garros champion, worked with seven-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz for seven years before the iconic duo parted ways in December 2025.

Ferrero also worked with Alexander Zverev, before the pair fell out amid acrimonious circumstances.

The Spaniard is now set to join Bryan Shelton in Ben Shelton’s coaching outfit. Bryan coached Ben throughout his college career at the University of Florida before becoming his son’s full-time head coach on the professional circuit.

Andy Roddick, who defeated Ferrero in the 2003 US Open final, has reacted to Shelton’s decision to hire the Spaniard.

Andy Roddick describes Ben Shelton hiring Juan Carlos Ferrero as ‘exciting’ but a ‘big challenge’

“If you’re Juan Carlos Ferrero at this point there are only certain types of jobs which are going to fire you up and get you going,” Roddick said on the Served Podcast.

“Being a part of someone winning their first slam when they have already been in Grand Slam finals and multiple semifinals and they have beaten your former guy in a Grand Slam this year.

“Bryan Shelton, we have gone on ad nauseam on this show. He has as complete a resume as a coach can have. He has worked in men’s, women’s, college and professional tennis. He has played on Tour himself.

“He checks a lot of the boxes. He was a great player, but he wasn’t number one in the world. I think that in view of ‘I helped this guy break through at a Grand Slam’, let’s fill that void. ‘I’ve been number one in the world’, let’s fill that void. Ferrero is an expert on the surface Shelton is least effective on – that’s a big check. This complements this team very well on paper.

“The fact Bryan exists also makes this realistic logistically. Without Bryan Shelton there you are saying is Ben spending six months a year in Spain or is Juan Carlos Ferrero spending three months a year in the United States. Neither seems like traditionally what those guys want to do.

“With Bryan there knowing and being able to pace through practice weeks and then having Juan Carlos come in and add value and prioritising the weeks when he can add value, this is a win.

Carlos Alcaraz’s achievements with Juan Carlos Ferrero as coach

• Six Grand Slam titles [2022 US Open, 2023 Wimbledon, 2024 Roland Garros, 2024 Wimbledon, 2025 Roland Garros, 2025 US Open]
• Eight Masters 1000 titles
• World number one ranking

“But I don’t think this happens without Bryan. It doesn’t make it logistically possible. A lot of people would have jumped at this opportunity. It’s exciting. We have all heard about the men’s drought on the American side. If you’re Juan Carlos Ferrero you are thinking this is a big story, I can get into this.

“This is a big challenge. There are two monsters. One he knows very well and the other he knows very well in Alcaraz and Sinner. That’s who they are going to have to go through.”

Shelton has a 1-3 record against Alcaraz and a 1-9 record against Sinner on the Tour. The American has struggled against Sinner in particular, losing his last nine matches to the Italian.

Alcaraz has enjoyed greater success against Alcaraz in recent times; the 23-year-old stunned Alcaraz in the US Open quarter-finals earlier this year.

Ben Shelton vs Carlos Alcaraz on the ATP Tour

• 2023 Canadian Open: Alcaraz defeated Shelton in the round of 32, 6-3, 7-6
• 2024 Laver Cup: Alcaraz defeated Shelton 6-4, 6-4
• 2025 Roland Garros: Alcaraz defeated Shelton in the fourth round, 7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
• 2026 US Open: Shelton defeated Alcaraz in the quarter-finals, 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6

“And also Juan Carlos, you don’t get to French Open champion and number one in the world without some ego,” Roddick continued. “He is going ‘okay, which one in the holster can we use to go after the guy who fired me?’

“Shelton is as good an answer as any.”

What does Ben Shelton need to improve to win Grand Slam titles?

Shelton has a number of high-velocity weapons in his arsenal. The American possesses one of the most powerful serves on the circuit and a whip-like forehand that can trouble the very best.

However, there is one glaring hole in the American’s game: his backhand.

While Shelton has certainly made improvements to the shot over the past year, the stroke still lacks the firepower to truly challenge the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on a consistent basis.

One suspects that this area of Shelton’s game will be pinpointed as an area for improvement following Juan Carlos Ferrero’s installment into the coaching setup.