Carlos Alcaraz has declared he is ready to defy his underwhelming Australian Open record and become the youngest man to achieve a career grand slam.
Already holding the record as the youngest man in the Open era to become world No.1 when, aged 19, he won the 2022 US Open, the top Spaniard could complete the set of grand slam titles in Melbourne over the next fortnight. That feat, known as the career grand slam, took Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andre Agassi much longer to achieve.
Carlos Alcaraz reacts in his charity match against Alex de Minaur ahead of the Australian Open on Wednesday evening. Credit: Getty Images
Alcaraz, 21, has dropped to No.3 in the rankings but the Australian Open draw has generated a dream possibility – a showdown in the final with world No.1 Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz and Sinner split the majors in 2024 after Alcaraz won his first Roland-Garros title and defended his Wimbledon crown with a straight sets demolition of Djokovic.
“Of course I’m thinking about the possibility,” Alcaraz told this masthead when asked about adding the Australian Open to his trophy cabinet. He has only progressed beyond the third round once, reaching last year’s quarter-finals.
“I’m here wit
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