Carlos Alcaraz makes confident Australian Open claim as he highlights ‘very important goal’
Carlos Alcaraz has expressed his confidence by boldly declaring he is “sure” he will win the Australian Open in his career.
The world No 3 revealed completing the career Grand Slam is a “very important” goal for him.
Alcaraz is set to take on Ben Shelton in New York in the Garden Cup exhibition event at Madison Square Garden today.
The Spaniard will then face Frances Tiafoe in another exhibition match at the Charlotte Invitational on Friday.
The 21-year-old ended his 2024 season at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga last month as hosts Spain fell to a surprise 2-1 quarter-final loss to the Netherlands.
Alcaraz is a four-time Grand Slam champion, having won his maiden major at the 2022 US Open and his second at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.
The former world No 1 won the 2024 French Open to secure his third different Slam before defending his Wimbledon crown the following month.
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Alcaraz achieved his best Australian Open result to date by reaching the quarter-finals in Melbourne this year as he lost to Alexander Zverev.
He missed the hard-court major due to injury in 2023, while he reached the third round in 2022 and the second round in 2021 in his other two appearances.
Alcaraz will become the youngest man to win all four Grand Slams if he triumphs at the Australian Open in 2025, 2026 or 2027.
Rafael Nadal currently holds the record for completing the career Grand Slam at the youngest age in men’s tennis. The legendary Spaniard was 24 years, three months and 10 days old when he won the US Open for the first time in 2010 to complete the set.
Speaking ahead of the first of his two exhibition matches in the United States, Alcaraz outlined his desire to win the Australian Open.
“I’m sure I’ll be Australian champion sooner or later,” Alcaraz said. “Hopefully it will be this year.
“For me, it is very important to complete the remaining Slams.”
Alcaraz also spoke about appointing Samuel Lopez as his second coach ahead of the 2025 season.
“I think Samuel, for me, is one of the best coaches that we have on tour,” the Spaniard said.
“They trust each other 100 percent and being able to travel with both, for me, it’s going to be great. I think I’m going to grow as a player thanks to them.
“I think we are going to work pretty hard and pretty good for the next season and the next years. Hopefully we are going to make good results together.”
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