Nadal currently holds the record as the youngest player to win all four Grand Slams, achieving the feat at 24 after winning the 2010 US Open. Alcaraz has won three Grand Slams but has yet to conquer the Australian Open, where he has never advanced past the quarterfinals.
"This season, I've played quite consistently, perhaps the most consistently in years," Alcaraz said at a press conference after the US Open, where he defeated rival Jannik Sinner in four sets to claim his second title and reclaim the world number 1 ranking. "I want to maintain this consistency into next year and win the missing Grand Slam in Australia."
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Alcaraz (right) and Nadal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they played doubles together for Spain. Photo: Reuters |
Alcaraz (right) and Nadal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they played doubles together for Spain. Photo: Reuters
Alcaraz has two years to win the Australian Open and break Nadal's record. A victory next year would see him complete the career Grand Slam before turning 23, an age at which Nadal had only won 5 Grand Slam titles. Alcaraz has currently won each Grand Slam twice, a feat unmatched by any other 22-year-old.
"Winning the Australian Open sooner or later is fine," Alcaraz added. "But I definitely want to achieve it as soon as possible. I'll give my all to reach this goal next year. If not, hopefully the year after, or within four years. I'll be fully focused on this objective."
Alcaraz hasn't had much luck at the Australian Open, often hampered by injuries or dips in form. The hot weather and the early-season enthusiasm of his opponents have also affected his performance. In Melbourne, Sinner has been dominant, winning the tournament twice in a row.
Alcaraz leads Sinner 10-5 in their head-to-head record, including 7 wins in their last 8 encounters. His only loss in this streak came in the Wimbledon final. The Spanish player said he learned a lot from that defeat. He explained, "I studied Sinner carefully in that match, noted everything, and focused on improving. When I faced him again at the US Open, I wanted to apply what I'd learned. If I did that and still lost, then Sinner was simply too good. It's great that I was good enough to beat him."
Vy Anh
