Carlos Alcaraz may live to regret this decision after the 2026 Australian Open.
Alcaraz has never won the Australian Open, which is the only major tournament missing from his growing trophy collection.
As he looks to become the youngest player in history to complete the Career Slam, Alcaraz has made the Australian Open a big goal of his for 2026.
Alcaraz has shockingly split with Juan Carlos Ferrero ahead of the Australian Open, but that is not the only risk he has taken.
Carlos Alcaraz should have entered tournaments ahead of the Australian Open
Alcaraz has chosen to play exhibitions in the off-season, a decision which he has already been criticised for, but he has not entered any ATP tournaments prior to the Australian Open.
The only match Alcaraz will play ahead of the Australian Open now is against Jannik Sinner in an exhibition event in Seoul, South Korea.
What do you really think about tennis exhibitions?
While this is a decision that many players make, including two-time defending champion Sinner, it has not previously worked for Alcaraz.
Alcaraz has never surpassed the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in his four previous appearances at the tournament, with three of those involving no warm-up tournaments.
When you consider that all six of Alcaraz’s previous Grand Slam victories have come after he has played ATP tournaments, this seems like an oversight from the Spaniard.
The ideal tournament for Alcaraz to play prior to the Australian Open would be the United Cup, which features many top opponents and still has a fun element like an exhibition, which he seems to enjoy.
If Alcaraz fails to find success at the Australian Open once again in 2026 then he would be foolish not to reconsider his preparations in years to come.
Carlos Alcaraz may have put unnecessary pressure on himself for the Australian Open
Alcaraz’s lack of tournaments prior to the Australian Open is not the only error he may have made, with his recent comments also potentially putting him at risk of facing more pressure.
The world number one has already revealed that he would rather win the Australian Open over two Grand Slam titles next year, which is quite a bold claim to make.
While Alcaraz would have known this within himself, it is now something that everyone else will also be aware of now that he has put it in the public domain.
If he is unable to win the Australian Open, which is a real possibility given the presence of Sinner, then Alcaraz may really struggle to deal with the disappointment and this could impact his goals for the rest of the 2026 season.
Why do you think Carlos Alcaraz has struggled at the Australian Open in the past?
2021 Australian Open – 1R
2022 Australian Open – 3R
2024 Australian Open – QF
2025 Australian Open – QF
Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated tennis for the past two years, and it will be incredibly intriguing to see if they play a fourth consecutive major final against each other in Melbourne.
The main draw of the 2026 Australian Open will officially get underway on Sunday, January 18.
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