TENNIS: Alcaraz eyes Australian Open crown to complete career Slam

MELBOURNE – World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz arrives in Melbourne with a clear goal: to win his first Australian Open and become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.

The 22-year-old Spaniard already owns titles at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. A victory at Melbourne Park would allow him to surpass Don Budge, who completed the career Slam just two days before his 23rd birthday by winning the 1938 French Open.

“I would rather win my first Australian Open than retain my French Open and U.S. Open titles next year,” Alcaraz, who turns 23 on May 5, said in November.

A first Melbourne triumph would be Alcaraz’s seventh Grand Slam title overall, making him the first man to achieve this before turning 23.

Yet despite his global success, Australia has remained a curious gap on his résumé. His best showing so far has been reaching the quarter-finals in each of the past two seasons.

This year’s tournament carries extra intrigue following his sudden split with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. The former world No. 1 guided Alcaraz from a teenager to a multiple Grand Slam champion over seven years. The reasons for the breakup have not been disclosed, making it one of tennis’s biggest talking points this season.

Whether Alcaraz can maintain his high level without Ferrero in his corner remains one of the central questions of the tournament.

Alcaraz enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025, winning two Grand Slam titles and reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking. Melbourne, however, will be the first major test of his new setup under intense pressure.

Ferrero helped Alcaraz devise strategies against arch-rival Jannik Sinner, who claimed Wimbledon in 2025. The pair held a two-week training camp to prepare for the U.S. Open final, where Alcaraz defeated Sinner in four sets.

Despite that loss, defending Australian Open champion Sinner remains the favorite at Melbourne Park, slightly ahead of Alcaraz according to bookmakers.

Alcaraz’s improved serve and tactical variety helped him overcome Sinner at the U.S. Open, but the Italian will have made adjustments of his own.

Beyond Sinner, few players seem capable of stopping Alcaraz. Novak Djokovic, who eliminated him in last year’s quarter-finals, lost their most recent meeting in straight sets at the U.S. Open semi-finals.

Winning in Melbourne would allow Alcaraz to conquer the final frontier in men’s tennis and set the stage for a potential calendar-year Grand Slam.

-Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters