Alcaraz Targets Australian Open Title

World number one Carlos Alcaraz has set his sights on winning the 2026 Australian Open title in Melbourne as the tournament kicks off on January 18.

The Spanish star is hoping to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam, having won titles at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.

Alcaraz will become the first men’s player to win seven Grand Slam titles before his 23rd birthday if he emerges victorious in Melbourne.

He enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025, winning two Grand Slam titles while reclaiming the world number one ranking position.

Alcaraz is hoping to start 2026 on a winning note by winning his first Australian Open title.

He said, “I would rather win my first Australian Open than retain my French Open and U.S. Open titles.

Alcaraz has struggled to get past the quarterfinal stages in the last two editions of the tournament.

Novak Djokovic knocked him out of last year’s quarterfinals, but the 38-year-old Serb was no match in their last meeting, losing in three sets in the US Open semifinals.

Alcaraz ended his association with his long-time coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, in November.

He is yet to announce his replacement with just six days to the Australian Open.

Ferrero helped shape Alcaraz’s strategy to deal with arch-rival Jannik Sinner, who took his Wimbledon crown in 2025.

The pair had a two-week training camp focusing on how to break down the Italian before Alcaraz beat him in the US Open final in four sets.

Despite that result, defending Australian Open champion Sinner is the favourite at Melbourne Park, rated slightly ahead of Alcaraz by bookmakers.

Sinner and Alcaraz have shared the last eight Grand Slam titles, picking up four each since Novak Djokovic won his 24th major at the 2023 US Open.

Overall, last year, Alcaraz defeated Sinner in four of their six meetings in finals; he also got the better of him at the Masters 1000 events in Rome and Cincinnati.

Sinner’s second win over Alcaraz, after Wimbledon, came in the final of the season-ending ATP Finals in his homeland, leaving their career ATP Tour head-to-head at 10-6 in Alcaraz’s favour.

The 2026 Australian Open is expected to kick off from 18 January to 1 February.

It will be the 114th edition of the Australian Open, the 58th in the Open Era, and the first major of the year.

The tournament will consist of events for professional players in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Junior and wheelchair players will compete in singles and doubles tournaments.