Kim Clijsters gives her first reaction to Ben Shelton hiring Juan Carlos Ferrero, ‘I was very surprised’

Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz parted ways in December 2025.

Following seven years of success, the pair decided it was time to move on, with Alcaraz continuing to work with coach Samuel Lopez in the aftermath of said split.

Ferrero has been absent from the Tour until the present day. However, the Spaniard is set to make his long-awaited re-introduction alongside world number four Ben Shelton.

Many have already reacted to the somewhat surprising news, including Andy Roddick.

Kim Clijsters, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has now had her say on the matter.

Kim Clijsters reacts to Ben Shelton hiring Juan Carlos Ferrero as his coach

I was very surprised like a lot of people,” the Belgian tennis legend admitted on the Love All Podcast.

“I immediately started thinking how would that work – is it just a few weeks throughout the season that he is going to be there? I can think about being coached by your dad at times is also not the easiest thing to combine the personal relationship with the professional relationship.”

Ben Shelton has worked with his dad, Bryan Shelton, throughout the majority of the youngster’s adult life.

Bryan was the Head of Men’s Tennis at Florida State University and consequently coached Ben throughout his college career.

Bryan left the college program in 2023 to become Ben’s full-time coach on the ATP Tour.

“To have someone there [Ferrero] who is a fresh voice and you can maybe absorb things from a bit better or in a different way is always good,” Clijsters continued.

“So I think I immediately went to that side. Maybe I am relating it too much with seeing Jada and Brian when they go on the court and the frustrations that can build up at times there, between the two of them. It’s good sometimes to have another voice to deliver a message or deliver it differently without having that personal connection.

“The fact they have been looking and are open to adding an extra person, I love that. I love that Bryan is open to sharing because there is not a lot of coaches, maybe more on the women’s side, who are open to doing that.

Juan Carlos Ferrero’s coaching career

• Alexander Zverev [2017–2018]
• Carlos Alcaraz [2019–2025]
• Ben Shelton [2027–]

“There are a lot of coaches, I feel, that want to really palm in their player and not let anybody else in and to have a say, in the hope that if things go well, their input is maybe less important or they are not going to be in the spotlight as much.

“I have experienced a similar situation where that didn’t work out, so I think it’s great. I think it’s great for Ben to have an open mind and for Bryan to listen because Juan Carlos Ferrero was a great player.

“He was very disciplined, grew up in the Spanish system and that is something for Ben which I think will be great.”

Ferrero was one of the best players of the 2000s era, winning the 2003 French Open and achieving the world number one ranking.

The Spaniard also reached the 2003 US Open final and won three Davis Cup titles with Spain [2000, 2004, 2009].

“I am not saying he [Ben Shelton] is not disciplined,” Clijsters clarified. “He is such a fun and playful guy to watch and there is that fine line between keeping that playfulness but also learning when to have it come out and when to keep it under control.

“I think that is where Juan Carlos Ferrero is going to be very good for him.”

Ben Shelton’s next match at the Paris Masters

Shelton overcame the challenge of Cameron Norrie on Tuesday and advanced to the Paris Masters second round.

Norrie, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 event, was beaten 3-6, 4-6 by the American number one.

Shelton has set up a clash with home favourite Arthur Rinderknech – the 2025 Shanghai Masters finalist.

Rinderknech won their only previous meeting on the Tour, triumphing 7-6, 7-6 at the 2025 Queen’s Club Championships.

The winner of Shelton and Rinderknech will play either Tommy Paul or Quentin Halys in the third round.

Halys, also from France, stunned Frances Tiafoe earlier on Wednesday. Tiafoe’s ATP Tour Finals hopes are now in jeopardy following his three-set loss to the Frenchman.