Ferrero’s career shift leads him to coach a golfer; Wang Xinyu gains confidence reporting on her Australian Open schedule

Just today, former world number one and Alcarràs’s legendary coach Ferrero announced a stunning development: he will become the mental coach for 21-year-old Spanish golf prodigy Ángel Ayora.

Ferrero wrote on social media about this unique crossover collaboration: “Excited to announce that in 2026 I will embark on a brand-new professional partnership! I will work alongside the immensely talented young golfer Ayora, his coach, and management team. Together, we aim to enhance his competitive mindset and career growth. Tennis is my life, and I will continue to give my all at the academy and on tour. But golf also excites me — it is an individual sport where mental strength is crucial. I’m thrilled to share my experience to support his development on the tour. We have started this journey, full of motivation, and look forward to what lies ahead.”

Ferrero confirmed this will be a part-time role while he continues to run his tennis academy in Villena. It’s worth mentioning that 21-year-old Ángel Ayora is one of Europe’s most promising young golfers, having begun playing at age five. Interestingly, he also enjoyed tennis as a child but ultimately found his calling in golf. He made his professional ranking debut at the 2022 Andalucía Masters and has competed in the Eisenhower Trophy.

Ferrero’s split from Alcarràs caused a huge stir in the tennis world. During their collaboration, Alcarràs won 24 ATP titles, 6 Grand Slams, and became the youngest-ever world number one in history.

Regarding the reasons for the split, Ferrero told Marca: “At the end of the year, it was necessary to reassess certain contractual matters... We couldn’t reach agreement on some issues.” He added, “If we had sat down to talk, perhaps there was room to save it, but ultimately we never did and decided not to continue.” Ferrero strongly denied rumors about salary conflicts, emphasizing, “Financial issues were not a factor in the breakup.”

Tennis fans have mixed opinions about Ferrero’s transition: some commented, “A top tennis coach moving to help a golfer shows how universal mental training is across sports.” Others said, “Ferrero choosing golf instead of immediately coaching another tennis player shows he really wants change and new challenges.”

Some also speculated, “Considering the controversy stirred by his post-Alcarràs interviews, this shift might also be a way to step away from the tennis spotlight.”

It must be said, cross-sport collaborations are becoming a new trend in athletics. As a sports psychologist noted about Ferrero’s move: “The mental challenges faced by elite athletes are similar — managing pressure, maintaining focus, and making decisions in critical moments are highly transferable skills across sports.” Although coach moves within professional tennis are common, Ferrero’s cross-disciplinary shift remains rare.

At the Australian Open, American player Anisimova defeated China’s Wang Xinyu 7-6(4), 6-4 to reach her first-ever quarterfinal there, completing the feat of reaching the quarters in all four Grand Slams. Next, Anisimova will face sixth seed Pegula for a spot in the semifinals.

Despite the loss, Wang Xinyu showed significant progress in the match. In a post-match interview, she shared her growth insights: “I have to give myself credit for being open to changing my techniques and not afraid to try.” She emphasized the importance of a learning mindset: “When learning new things and making changes, you can’t think ‘I already know a bit’; you have to start from zero and try whatever is asked of you to truly improve.”

Wang reflected on her breakthroughs over recent years: “In the past two years, I’ve made strides at the US Open, Wimbledon, and Berlin events, and even defeated higher-ranked players.” Her current goal is clearer: “Our aim is to become a player with consistent performance, stabilizing my level at that standard.”

Next, Wang will take a short break before competing in the February Romanian 250 indoor event and the Middle East 1000 tournament as planned. She looks forward to indoor matches: “I really enjoy indoor competitions, and it’s great to have one coming up. My physical condition is good, and with many big events ahead, it’s not yet time to rest.”

Fans generally hold a positive view of Wang Xinyu’s performance. Many believe her technical adjustments have clearly paid off, with noticeable improvements in her serve and backhand. Moreover, her ‘starting from zero’ attitude shows maturity that will help her progress further in the future.

“Although she lost, Wang demonstrated the potential of a top player; consistency will be the key challenge she must overcome next,” a fan commented.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)