David Ferrer, former world No. 3 and Spanish Davis Cup captain, had plenty of good things to say about Carlos Alcaraz, especially about how he’s handled life after splitting with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and his red-hot start to 2026.

Alcaraz, now world No. 1, shocked everyone last December when he announced he’d parted ways with Ferrero. They’d been working together since Alcaraz was just a teenager. That partnership was something special. With Ferrero in his corner, Alcaraz grabbed his first six Grand Slam titles and became the youngest man ever to reach world No. 1. Their run was one of the most successful the sport has seen in years.

People haven’t stopped talking about the split. Ferrero himself has opened up about it in several interviews lately. But honestly, if you look at Alcaraz, you’d never know anything major had changed. He’s as dominant as ever.

He hasn’t lost a match in 2026. He kicked off the year by winning his seventh Grand Slam at the Australian Open, making him the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam. Then he tore through the Qatar Open, demolishing Arthur Fils in the final in just 50 minutes.

Talking to Clay and RG Media, Ferrer pointed out that Alcaraz’s mature, almost businesslike approach to the Ferrero split has played a big part in his continued success.

“A break-up like that is never easy. There’s always an emotional side,” Ferrer said. “But Carlos is so focused and professional. He showed everyone he could handle it, both in Australia and in Doha.”

And he’s still only 22; he doesn’t turn 23 until May. Yet he’s already locked in his place as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Seven Grand Slam singles titles and counting. A lot of people have started to wonder if he can match what Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer achieved.

If anyone knows how good the Big 3 were, it’s Ferrer. He spent years battling Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal. He sees clear similarities between Alcaraz and those legends, especially Nadal, his fellow Spaniard.

“Carlitos is having a fantastic year. He hasn’t lost, which gives you a ton of confidence and stability,” Ferrer said. “I think he’s special. He’s different, like Rafa was, like the Big Three. These are players who really know how to handle pressure.”

Alcaraz is showing no signs of slowing down. He’s started strong at Indian Wells, looking every bit the favourite to win another Masters 1000 title. After a first-round bye, he beat Grigor Dimitrov, then took down Arthur Rinderknech in a tough three-setter on Sunday.

Next up: 13th seed Casper Ruud in the fourth round. If Alcaraz gets through, he’ll face either qualifier Rinky Hijikata or 27th seed Cameron Norrie in the quarters. Right now, he looks unstoppable.

Indian Wells is usually all about the drama on those purple hard courts, but lately, there’s been a different kind of rivalry heating up in the California sun.

Turns out, when they’re not battling it out in front of thousands, some of the world’s best tennis players find other ways to keep their edge. This time, the action moved from the tennis courts to the golf course. Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev all decided to swap rackets for golf clubs and sneak in a few rounds while the tournament was on break.

You don’t often see these guys drop their game faces, but the golf course brings out something different. Zverev talked about it after his match with Frances Tiafoe. He let slip that this wasn’t just a one-off thing; he and Alcaraz actually play almost every day. "Carlos and I played every day, almost, actually. Novak joined us two days ago,” he said. You can tell these guys are just as competitive on the golf course as they are on the tennis court. Zverev figures his own handicap is around 8, and Alcaraz is right there with him. So, the matches get pretty intense.

When Novak joined in, Zverev said, “Yeah, it was fun.” Djokovic admits he isn’t quite at their level, but honestly, it’s still funny to hear Zverev talk up Alcaraz’s skills and then just casually toss in, “Oh, and Novak played too.”

Tennis and golf actually go hand in hand more than you’d think. Both demand crazy hand-eye coordination, serious focus, and that explosive twist in the body. A bunch of tennis pros have got hooked on golf, but a few have really stood out. Mardy Fish, for example, is probably the best golfer the ATP Tour has ever produced. He made it to World No. 7 in tennis, then switched gears and started winning celebrity golf tournaments, including the American Century Championship. In 2022, he even played the 3M Open on the PGA Tour, which makes him the first person ever to compete on both the ATP and PGA Tours.

Ash Barty, who shocked everyone by retiring as world number one, is also a scratch golfer. She’s won a ladies’ club championship in Australia, and golf legend Karrie Webb has said Barty could totally win as an amateur.

Rafael Nadal? The guy’s a monster on the golf course, too. He plays to a 0.3 handicap, which is basically pro level, and he’s finished as high as sixth in the Balearic Golf Championships in Spain.

Then there’s Pete Sampras, whose smooth tennis serve translates into a killer golf swing. He’s played to a scratch or near-scratch handicap for years and pops up at a lot of Pro-Am events.

And after he retired, Ivan Lendl really got obsessed with golf. He plays off a low single-digit handicap and has even tried his luck at professional senior qualifiers and on the celebrity circuit.

Guess the competition never really leaves these guys, no matter what sport they pick up.