Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty ImagesCameron GreenleesThu, January 15, 2026 at 5:10 PM UTC·2 min read

Carlos Alcaraz is gearing up for his first shot at an Australian Open title, with the chance to become the youngest man ever to complete a Career Grand Slam within reach.

While he already has wins at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and two US Open titles under his belt, Melbourne remains the one major missing from his collection.

The draw has opened up well for him this year, with both Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic on the opposite side of the bracket, meaning he would not face either until a potential final.

In December, Alcaraz split from long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. But in a pre-tournament exhibition against world number six Alex de Minaur at Rod Laver Arena, there were no obvious signs of disruption.

The Spaniard won 6-3, 6-4 and afterwards spoke about how much time he has been putting into one specific aspect of his game.

Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Alcaraz said in his on-court interview: “Everyone is putting in hard work, so you have to be ready for that.

“About myself, I’ve told many times that it’s to remain my focus, not to lose my focus during the matches or even during the tournament.

“Just trying to maintain, make the things off the court better, which, after all, helps you a lot when you step on the court, and you’re giving 100%.

“That’s something I’m working so much on, to be happy, to stay positive all the time. That’s really important for me.”

Alcaraz’s 2025 Australian Open campaign concluded in the quarter-finals after a four-set loss to Djokovic.

Former Australian player Todd Woodbridge shared his thoughts on Alcaraz’s meeting with de Minaur during a segment on TNT Sports: “It was a pretty impressive match, when you listen to them, they’re pretty relaxed.”

“Not too worried about a win or a loss, but when you see what Carlos [Alcaraz] produced, that was incredible.

“I’m sitting courtside watching, the speed, the power, the injection of pace, was extraordinary.

“I’m having second thoughts because I picked Jannik Sinner to go for the three-peat. But from what I watched there, it’s going to be tough for Jannik. But there is so much to play out of course.”

Sinner is aiming for a historic achievement at the Australian Open, seeking to become the Open Era’s second man, after Djokovic, to secure three consecutive Melbourne titles.

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