Carlos Alcaraz can etch his name into tennis history at the Australian Open by completing the career Grand Slam.
Alcaraz has twice won the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, but Australian Open success remains elusive.
In fact, he has never made it beyond the quarterfinals of the hard-court event, reaching that stage in both 2024 and 2025.
The ATP number one now has the chance to right that wrong this year, with home favorite Adam Walton representing Alcaraz’s first opponent in Melbourne.
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Roger Federer hopes Carlos Alcaraz completes the career Grand Slam
One player who managed to complete the career Grand Slam was Roger Federer, with the legendary figure having had to wait quite some time to finally get over the line at the French Open.
He’s been speaking to the media in Melbourne ahead of the 2026 Australian Open, where he was asked: “The longer you have to wait to do that, more pressure builds. How do you see Carlos here trying to do that at the AO?”
Federer replied: “You shouldn’t be asking those questions. You know how it is. He knows about it. It’s like Rory [McIlroy] going for the Masters. Those things are tough. At the end of the day, like I say, the momentum shifts after first round. Then it’s point-for-point mentality.
“But it’s true, in order to complete the career Grand Slam already now would be crazy. So let’s see if he is able to do ‘crazy’ this week. I hope he does because for the game, again, that would be an unbelievable, special moment.
“He has another hundred and whatever players that say, We don’t agree with those plans. They might try to stop him.”
Carlos Alcaraz eyes career Grand Slam record at the Australian Open
Federer represents one of eight men to have completed the career Grand Slam, doing so at the 2009 French Open.
Also on the exclusive list are Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
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However, at the age of just 22, Alcaraz would be the youngest-ever career Grand Slam champion should he triumph at the Australian Open.
Very fittingly, his main ATP rival Jannik Sinner also needs just one more title to complete the career Grand Slam.
The Italian has yet to lift the French Open trophy, while their WTA counterpart Iga Swiatek needs only Australian Open success to achieve the fantastic feat.
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