Carlos Alcaraz is one quarter of the way to winning the Calendar Grand Slam.
Only one man, Rod Laver, has won the Calendar Grand Slam in the Open Era.
The Aussie won all four majors, the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open in 1969.
Spain’s Alcaraz won the 2026 Australian Open to kick off his Calendar Grand Slam bid earlier this month.
Will Carlos Alcaraz win the Calendar Slam in 2026?
If not, which Grand Slam is he going to fail to win?
But can he go all the way and join Laver in making history?
Former world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov doesn’t think so…
Yevgeny Kafelnikov doesn’t think Carlos Alcaraz will complete the Calendar Grand Slam
During the latest episode of ‘Hard Court‘, Russian tennis legend Kafelnikov was asked if he thought Alcaraz could win the Calendar Grand Slam.
“No, he won’t win four tournaments,” said Kafelnikov.
“[Jannik] Sinner won’t allow it.”
Kafelnikov raises a good point, as Sinner and Alcaraz have won the previous nine Grand Slams.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s Grand Slam streak
- 2024 Australian Open – Jannik Sinner
- 2024 French Open – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2024 Wimbledon – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2024 US Open – Jannik Sinner
- 2025 Australian Open – Jannik Sinner
- 2025 French Open – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2025 Wimbledon – Jannik Sinner
- 2025 US Open – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2026 Australian Open – Carlos Alcaraz
It’s hard to imagine Alcaraz winning another three Grand Slams this year if his greatest rival, Sinner, remains fit and healthy.
Since they began dominating major tournaments, neither Alcaraz nor Sinner has won three Grand Slams in a row, never mind four.
But which Grand Slam does Kafelnikov think Alcaraz will fail to win this year?
“I think he will win Roland Garros, but not the US Open,” he said.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Grand Slam performance timeline
| Grand Slam | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| Australian Open | 2R | 3R | – | QF | QF | W |
| French Open | 3R | QF | SF | W | W | – |
| Wimbledon | 2R | 4R | W | W | F | – |
| US Open | QF | W | SF | 2R | W | – |
Carlos Alcaraz’s Grand Slam record
| Grand Slam | Titles | Win/Loss record | Win % |
| Australian Open | 1 | 18-4 | 82% |
| French Open | 2 | 25-3 | 89% |
| Wimbledon | 2 | 24-3 | 89% |
| US Open | 2 | 24-3 | 89% |
Kafelnikov doesn’t think Alcaraz can win all four Slams in 2026, but what did his fellow Russian, Elena Demtieva, a former Olympic gold medalist, say?
“Winning everything, knowing how short the break between the French Open and Wimbledon is, it’s incredibly difficult to do,” said Dementieva.
“Only a few have succeeded in this.”
Few players have completed the Calendar Grand Slam, but has anyone come close this Century?
Every Calendar Grand Slam attempt since 2000 (men’s singles)
Since 2000, there have been 26 unsuccessful Calendar Grand Slam bids.
But of the 26 attempts, how many players fell at the first real hurdle?
Well, on 22 occasions, players who won the Australian Open failed to complete 50% of the Calendar Grand Slam and lost at the French Open.
Players who failed the Calendar Grand Slam at the French Open
- 2000 – Andre Agassi won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open 2R
- 2001 – Andre Agassi won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open QF
- 2002 – Thomas Johansson won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open 2R
- 2003 – Andre Agassi won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open QF
- 2004 – Roger Federer won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open 3R
- 2005 – Marat Safin won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open 4R
- 2006 – Roger Federer won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open F
- 2007 – Roger Federer won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open F
- 2008 – Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open SF
- 2009 – Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open 4R
- 2010 – Roger Federer won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open QF
- 2011 – Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open SF
- 2012 – Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open F
- 2013 – Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open SF
- 2014 – Stan Wawrinka won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open 1R
- 2015 – Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open F
- 2017 – Roger Federer won the Australian Open – Did not play French Open
- 2018 – Roger Federer won the Australian Open – Did not play French Open
- 2019 – Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open SF
- 2020 – Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open – Lost in US Open 4R (Schedule changed)
- 2024 – Jannik Sinner won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open SF
- 2025 – Jannik Sinner won the Australian Open – Lost in French Open F
However, while most failed to keep the dream alive past the French Open, three Calendar Grand Slam attempts lasted until Wimbledon.
Players who failed the Calendar Grand Slam at Wimbledon
- 2016 – Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open and French Open – Lost in Wimbledon 3R
- 2022 – Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open and French Open – Withdrew before Wimbledon SF
- 2023 – Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open and French Open – Lost in Wimbledon F
Just one man managed to win the first three Grand Slams of the year in the 2000s.
Players who failed the Calendar Grand Slam at the US Open
- 2021 – Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon – Lost in US Open F
Novak Djokovic was a match away from completing the Calendar Grand Slam, but came up short, losing to Daniil Medvedev in the 2021 US Open final.
Who finishes their career on more majors – Alcaraz or Djokovic?
Finishing the Calendar Grand Slam is one of the most difficult tasks in tennis, and it’s no surprise that Laver’s record has remained untouched for decades.
Will Alcaraz be the man to step up and make history?
Only time will tell…
Alcaraz will resume his Calendar Grand Slam attempt at the 2026 French Open, which begins on Sunday, May 24.
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