The 5 men to complete the Career Grand Slam: Will Carlos Alcaraz match Djokovic, Nadal, Federer?

Oli Dickson Jefford 08 Jan 2025 11:06 AM

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer.

Carlos Alcaraz will look to become the youngest man in history to complete the Career Grand Slam with victory at the 2025 Australian Open.

The Spaniard would also just be the sixth man in the Open Era to achieve the historic feat and the first to do so since 2016.

Rod Laver – 1969

Aussie great Laver initially completed the Career Grand Slam – and Calendar Slam – in 1962 during the amateur era, though did not appear at the majors again for almost six years after turning professional.

At the start of the Open Era in 1968, he returned to Grand Slam action – and almost immediately won his second Wimbledon title that very year.

That was followed by a historic second Calendar Slam in 1969, seeing him complete the Career Slam in both the amateur and professional ages.

Having beaten Tony Roche in the 1968 Wimbledon final, Laver defeated Andres Gimeno in the 1969 Australian Open final before beating Ken Rosewall at Roland Garros – having lost to him in 1968.

Laver then overcame John Newcombe to successfully defend his SW19 title and would then beat Roche at the US Open to complete both the Calendar and Career Slams once again.

That US Open win was Laver’s last singles major, though he remains the last man to win all four Slams in the same year.

Andre Agassi – 1999

Three decades on from Laver, Agassi became just the second man in the Open Era to achieve the Career Slam with an emotional 1999 French Open triumph.

Having lost the 1990 and 1991 French Open finals – and the 1990 US Open final – the American would bounce back to win Wimbledon in 1992, the US Open in 1994, and the Australian Open in 1995.

That left Agassi just one Roland Garros victory away from history, though personal struggles saw the icon’s career waver across the mid-1990s.

However, back at his best, Agassi made his third French Open final in 1999 – only to fall two sets down to surprise finalist Andrei Medvedev.

The Ukrainian looked to have the American’s number, though the 13th seed battled back to triumph 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 and seal his place in the pantheon of tennis greats.

The former world No 1 would go on to add three more Australian Open titles and a US Open title to his Grand Slam collection.

Roger Federer – 2009

Having dominated at the three other majors across the mid to late 2000s, Federer finally completed the Career Grand Slam at the 2009 French Open.

The Swiss had won five Wimbledon titles, five US Open titles, and three Australian Open titles by this stage of his career, but had been beaten by chief rival Rafael Nadal in three straight finals in Paris.

But, with Nadal stunned by Robin Soderling in the fourth round, Federer was handed a golden Roland Garros chance 16 years ago.

Federer rallied from two sets down to beat Tommy Haas in the round of 16 and then beat Gael Monfils and Juan Martin del Potro to reach the final – where he faced Soderling.

It ultimately proved to be a straightforward affair for the Swiss Maestro, prevailing 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4 to win what was at the time a record-equalling 14th major – and finally complete the Career Slam.

Federer would not add to his French Open collection, but went on to win three more Wimbledon and three more Australian Open titles.

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Rafael Nadal – 2010

As of now, Nadal is the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam – a record Alcaraz would break with an Australian Open victory in 2025, 2026, or 2027.

Heading into the 2010 US Open, Nadal – aged 24 years and three months – had won a staggering five Roland Garros titles, alongside two Wimbledon wins and an Australian Open victory.

Nadal had reached back-to-back semi-finals in New York but had never reached the final before 2010, something he was determined to change.

The top seed and world No 1 tore through the draw, with quarter-final wins over Fernando Verdasco and Mikhail Youzhny guiding the Spaniard to the final without dropping a single set.

He faced Djokovic in the final, with the Serbian looking to win just his second major and first at Flushing Meadows.

It proved to be Nadal’s toughest match of the event but the 24-year-old eventually claimed a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory to capture the Career Slam.

The US Open ultimately proved to be his most successful major outside of Roland Garros, winning the title four times overall.

Novak Djokovic – 2016

The most recent man to complete the feat, Djokovic finally made history at the 2016 French Open after three previous final defeats.

Djokovic had won six Australian Open titles, three Wimbledon titles, and two US Open titles by this point, but fell to Nadal in the 2012 and 2014 Roland Garros finals before a shock loss to Stan Wawrinka in 2015.

However, the top seed and world No 1 was the title favourite in 2016 – and when Nadal withdrew mid-tournament due to injury, he became a clear frontrunner.

After easing past Tomas Berdych in the last eight, Djokovic dispatched future Slam winner Dominic Thiem in the semi-finals to book a final against Andy Murray.

Against the odds, Murray rallied from an early break down to take the opening set, only for Djokovic to seal a historic 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win and make history.

Since then, Djokovic has doubled his Slam collection, winning four Australian Open titles, two Roland Garros titles, four Wimbledon titles, and two US Open titles.

He is the only man to win all four majors on at least three separate occasions.

Alcaraz eyes success

Alcaraz has so far reached four Grand Slam finals and won them all, triumphing at the US Open in 2022, Roland Garros in 2024, and Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024.

The Australian Open remains the only Slam where the Spaniard is yet to make a significant impact, with his best showing being a run to the quarter-final a year ago.

Ranked third in the world, Alcaraz is among the leading contenders to triumph and make history, though faces potential significant tests from the likes of world No 1 Jannik Sinner and Djokovic.