Can Carlos Alcaraz secure victory at the Australian Open?
MELBOURNE, Australia — Carlos Alcaraz has yet to secure a title at the Australian Open, nor has he reached the final of this tournament. In fact, the world No. 1 has not made it to the semifinals at the year’s opening Grand Slam.
This seems astonishing. Almost unbelievable. A quick look at Wikipedia might clarify this situation.
After all, few players in tennis history have experienced a 40-month period of dominance like Alcaraz. Since August 2022, the charismatic Spaniard has claimed two Wimbledon titles, two French Open titles, two US Open titles, and triumphed in eight Masters 1000 events. At just 19, he became the youngest player ever to hold the ATP’s No. 1 ranking and has accumulated an impressive $50 million in prize money, placing him fifth on the all-time earnings list in tennis.
However, despite all of Alcaraz’s achievements, the Australian Open title remains a glaring absence from his record. Not only has he not lifted the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, but he has also never truly contended for the title in Australia, which contrasts sharply with his performances at the other three Grand Slam events. At Wimbledon, he has won 89% of his matches. At the French Open? Again, 89%. And at the US Open? You guessed it: 89%. As he approached this year’s Australian Open, Alcaraz’s win percentage stood at “only” 73%.
“I’m hungry for the title,” Alcaraz stated on the eve of the tournament. “This is my main goal for this year. The first tournament, the main goal. I just really want to perform better than I did in previous years.”
So far in his career, Alcaraz’s most notable match at Melbourne Park was his third-round encounter in 2022 against eventual semifinalist Matteo Berrettini. The then-18-year-old Alcaraz delivered an extraordinary performance under intense sunlight on Rod Laver Arena, in a match that went to a fifth-set decider and lasted over four hours. Although Alcaraz fell just short, it showcased the remarkable talent that would soon set the standard on the tour.
Since that time, every return to Australia for Alcaraz has either ended in significant disappointment or been cut short before it began.
In 2023, as the newly crowned world No. 1, a heartbroken Alcaraz had to withdraw from the tournament due to a hamstring injury sustained in the final weeks of his training. He returned in 2024 to much anticipation but was defeated by a highly efficient Alexander Zverev in a lopsided quarterfinal that did not reflect his best performance.
OH MY ALCARAZ 😱
This is UNREAL 🔥@carlosalcaraz • @wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/fSZZ2aITyo
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2026
Last year’s journey also ended in the quarterfinals, where he lost to 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in four sets.
“It’s challenging not to have progressed beyond the quarterfinals here in Australia because I feel like I’m playing good tennis here. The last two years I’ve been playing really well,” Alcaraz remarked earlier in the week. “Zverev and Djokovic … it’s unusual to face such players in the quarterfinals if you are [ranked] one or two in the world.”
That defeat to Djokovic motivated Alcaraz to have the most successful season of his career. He secured eight titles, including the US Open and French Open championships, reached nine consecutive tournament finals from April to September, and achieved a career-best record of 71 wins out of 80 matches played.
Alcaraz has maintained that momentum into this fortnight’s event at Melbourne Park, having advanced to the fourth round without losing a set. His round of 32 match against France’s Corentin Moutet was a two-hour display of his exceptional skill, strategy, and athleticism, leaving his seeded opponent laughing to himself and without solutions.
Next, he faces American Tommy Paul, with the winner set to meet either 10th-seed Alexander Bublik or Australia’s top-ranked Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals.
Securing the Australian Open title would make Alcaraz the ninth male player to achieve a career Grand Slam. He would also be the youngest to accomplish this, breaking compatriot Rafael Nadal’s existing record by nearly two full years.
“Completing the career Grand Slam is an incredible achievement. To be the youngest [to have] done it before is even better,” Alcaraz stated. “I’m just pleased with how I see myself improving with each match, each practice. I know that I’m going to keep progressing.”
“I feel this year is likely one of those years where I will have the opportunity to succeed.”
Source: espn.com
