It's been almost three months since Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero announced a shock end to their wildly successful player-coach partnership. Ferrero, himself a former world No. 1 and Grand Slam champion, began coaching Alcaraz when his countryman was just 15. Under Ferrero's guidance, Alcaraz won 24 titles, including six Majors, and became the youngest world No. 1 in ATP history.

But the Spanish superstar has been just as successful without Ferrero in his corner. Samuel Lopez, who worked alongside Ferrero last year, stepped up to take on the head coach job, while Alcaraz's brother Alvaro is also playing a key role in the team. It's clearly working - Alcaraz is undefeated so far this year, winning 14 matches in a row, and lifting trophies at the Australian Open and Qatar Open.

The split has, however, taken its toll on Ferrero. The former world No. 1 recently had to unfollow Alcaraz on Instagram, admitting he needed "a little time". It's also been difficult for Ferrero to watch Lopez stay on in Alcaraz's team. "He's someone I trust completely, I'm very happy for him, and it makes me very happy and relieved to know that he's aware of all the work that's been done over the years. At the same time, seeing someone I trust so much coaching Carlos hurts a little, but I'm getting better at it," he told Josep Pedrerol on El Cafelito.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, has barely mentioned their decision to part ways. Ahead of the Australian Open, his first tournament of the year, he simply explained that it was a mutual decision and that they remained on good terms. The world No. 1 has let his tennis do the talking instead, and retired Spanish tennis stars Carla Suarez Navarro and David Ferrer have been impressed with his attitude following the shock split.

"Alcaraz is developing a level of maturity and experience that allows him to handle all those emotions. It's very positive that he recognises it and says it openly, because that already puts you one step ahead in managing emotions," former world No. 6 Suarez Navarro told Clay.

"Maybe off court he keeps turning the Ferrero situation over in his head, but once he's on court he manages to relax and put it into perspective. He's seen that with Samu (Lopez) and with his brother, he can also perform very well, and if he says he now feels calmer and more stable, I'd be afraid to face him."

Alcaraz's maturity also hasn't gone unnoticed by Ferrer, the former world No. 3 and current Spanish Davis Cup captain. "Something like that is never easy because in the end there's an emotional side to it and that will always be there," Ferrer added.

"Carlos is a very focused player, very professional, and he has shown that he handled it emotionally very well, both in Australia and in Doha. Carlitos is having a very good year. Obviously, he hasn't lost a match yet and that also gives you a lot of confidence and stability. I think he's a special player, different, like Rafa Nadal was, like the Big Three. They are players who handle pressure very well."

Alcaraz hopes to keep his winning run alive in Indian Wells, where he is through to the last 16 to face Casper Ruud. It's also been a big week for Team Alcaraz, as the world No. 1's brother, Alvaro, won the Nothing Major podcast's 'Hottie Coach Bracket'.

After his brother was crowned the best-looking coach in a series of Instagram polls, Alcaraz joked: "Of course I knew about it. You know, I was probably more nervous than my tournament here. Yeah, funny thing that a lot of players were, you know, watching it, were, you know, following the results. You know, happy that my brother took the Hottie Coach of the Year."

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