The incredible all-time record currently held by Rafael Nadal that Carlos Alcaraz can break in 2026

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Carlos Alcaraz will do well to replicate his outstanding 2025 campaign next season.

The Spaniard enjoyed his greatest year to date on the ATP Tour, winning eight titles, two of which came at Grand Slams.

Alcaraz went back-to-back at Roland Garros in June and claimed his second US Open title in September, overcoming his rival, Jannik Sinner, in the final on both occasions.

Despite losing the championship match at the ATP Finals to Sinner, he finished the year as the world number one.

Heading into the 2026 season, Alcaraz now has a chance to break one of Rafael Nadal‘s incredible all-time records.

Carlos Alcaraz could make history at the 2026 Australian Open

The title Alcaraz will want to win more than any other next year is the Australian Open, the only Grand Slam he has yet to capture.

Alcaraz has two Wimbledon championships, two Roland Garros crowns, and two US Open titles, but has never managed to go all the way in Melbourne.

Should he finally emerge victorious at the Australian Open, Alcaraz will become just the sixth man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Only Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Nadal have managed to win all four majors since 1968.

The youngest to have accomplished the Career Grand Slam is Nadal, who did so in 2010 at the age of 24 years and 101 days.

Alcaraz, still aged just 22, could finally break his compatriot’s record, with this year marking the second-last chance for him to do it.

Carlos Alcaraz’s record at the Australian Open over the years

Alcaraz’s first appearance at the Australian Open came in 2021, and it ended in the second round when he lost to Mikael Ymer.

The next year, he went one stage further, bowing out in round three following a tough five-set defeat to Matteo Berrettini.

He withdrew from the tournament in 2023 due to injury, but came back in 2024 and achieved his best result at the event.

Alcaraz made it to the quarterfinals that season, but lost to Alexander Zverev in four sets.

This year, Alcaraz advanced to the last eight once again, but was knocked out by Djokovic, with the Serb beating him for a second consecutive time after his triumph in the 2024 Olympics final.