Ahead of the Australian Open, Spain's rising tennis star Carlos Alcaraz has expressed his unwavering ambition to win as many Grand Slams as possible. With the prestigious tournament starting this Sunday, Alcaraz remains focused on continuing to cement his place among the tennis elite.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz has already made his mark on the sport, securing four major titles. However, one key achievement still eludes him—the Australian Open, which remains the only Grand Slam missing from his growing collection.
When asked about his goals, Alcaraz emphasised that Grand Slam titles and Masters 1000 tournaments are at the top of his list. While maintaining an eye on his ATP ranking, he shared that his primary focus is always on the majors.
"For me, the goal is to try to win Grand Slams, Masters 1000s. Those are the most important tournaments in the world," said Alcaraz, explaining his drive.
"Obviously, the ranking is up there as well, trying to get as close as I can to Jannik (Sinner) or pass (Alexander) Zverev. The ranking is there. But mainly, the thing for me is Grand Slams, trying to win as many Grand Slams as I can."
Alcaraz's rise to prominence has been closely followed, especially after he surpassed the achievements of tennis greats like Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka.
In 2024, both Alcaraz and his Italian rival, Jannik Sinner, took centre stage by each claiming two Grand Slam titles. Sinner, who has held the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings since June, has become a key figure in Alcaraz’s career. Their rivalry has, in many ways, propelled Alcaraz’s growth on the court.
Reflecting on their encounters, Alcaraz shared how playing against Sinner has shaped his mindset. "When I'm playing against him, I have a different mindset," he revealed.
"When you're facing the best players or the best player in the world, you have to do something different, different preparation, or different mindset."
Alcaraz’s insight into their matches highlights the intensity of their rivalry. "When I'm facing him, I just know that I have to play my best if I want to win. That’s it. Probably if I have a bad day against Jannik, it's 99 per cent that you’re going to lose," he admitted.
This mindset drives Alcaraz to continually push himself to improve. "The good thing for me is when I’m seeing him winning titles, when I’m seeing him in the top of the rankings, it forces me to practise even harder every day."
The competitive dynamic between Alcaraz and Sinner has become one of the most exciting storylines in men’s tennis, with Alcaraz using their rivalry to fuel his training and performance. He explained that every match against Sinner forces him to raise his game and gives him the motivation to be at his best.
Looking ahead to the Australian Open, Alcaraz knows that his path to the final will not be easy. While Alcaraz and Sinner cannot face each other until the final at Melbourne Park, the third seed will be focused on each match leading up to that point, starting with his opening clash against Alexander Shevchenko.
Last year, Alcaraz was knocked out of the Australian Open in the quarter-finals by Alexander Zverev, and while this loss still stings, he is determined to make a strong comeback.
His preparation this time has been bolstered by the presence of his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, who was unable to join him at the tournament last year due to knee surgery.
"Juan Carlos with me six years now. He knows me really well. He knows what I need during the matches, how the things have to be said during the matches," Alcaraz explained. The return of Ferrero is significant for Alcaraz, who values his coach's experience and guidance. However, Alcaraz also acknowledged the support of his second coach, Samuel, who was by his side in the absence of Ferrero last year. "I trust him 100 per cent as well," Alcaraz added, reinforcing the strong team dynamic that has been integral to his success.
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