Well, hello and welcome to the tennis podcast unexpectedly on this Wednesday afternoon.

This is an unplanned freeform live podcast with myself,

Catherine Riddick and Matt Roberts, David Law,

Matt Futterman from The Athletic.

We'll be joining us very shortly.

Indeed, we've been speaking to all of our contacts in the tennis world,

pretty much all of whom are as shocked as you and I

by the news that dropped earlier on today.

The reason we are all here, which is the news that world number one, Carlos Alcaraz,

has split from his long-time coach and self-labeled father figure Juan Carlos Ferreiro.

The news broken by Alcaraz on his own social media channels.

This is translated from Spanish.

Thank you, Matt Roberts.

He says, it's very difficult for me to write this post.

After more than seven years together,

Juan Ki and I have decided to end our time together as coach and player. Thank you for making my

childhood dreams come true. We started this journey when I was just a kid. And throughout this time,

you've been with me on an incredible adventure, both on and off the court court and I've thoroughly enjoyed every step of it

with you. We've made it to the top and I feel that if our sporting paths had to part,

it should be from up there, from the place we always worked towards and always aspired to reach.

So many memories come to mind that it wouldn't be fair to choose just one.

You have made me grow as an athlete, but above all as a person.

...