Post by : Maya Rahman

Carlos Alcaraz has disclosed that his primary objective for the upcoming tennis season is to capture his inaugural Australian Open title. Despite being the reigning champion of the French Open and the US Open, the young Spaniard emphasizes that winning in Melbourne in 2026 holds greater significance for him than defending those titles. His remarks were made during a recent interview on the Spanish sports radio show El Partidazo de Cope, just a day after he secured the top spot in year-end world rankings.

Alcaraz articulated that his strong desire to win the Australian Open has heightened, especially since he has yet to progress beyond the quarter-finals. He reached that stage in both 2024 and 2025, falling short of further advancement. To him, winning in Melbourne would be more meaningful than repeating successes at other Grand Slams, establishing it as a vital goal for the new season.

Even after finishing the year as the world number one, Alcaraz conveyed that he does not view himself as the best player globally. He pointed out that rankings do not solely determine greatness, and there are still many competitors capable of defeating him. The Spanish player acknowledged that there is much room for improvement, committing to relentless training to genuinely merit the title of the best.

Reflecting on his gritty quarter-final face-off earlier this year, which ended in a loss to Novak Djokovic in four sets, Alcaraz noted Djokovic’s subsequent injury retirement in the semi-finals. Djokovic is anticipated to rebound strongly in January, continuing his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title, along with an 11th Australian Open trophy. Alcaraz described competing against Djokovic in Melbourne as a significant challenge, with a victory there marking a substantial achievement in his career.

He also shared insights on his long-term goals. Although he aspires to surpass Djokovic’s Grand Slam record, he admits the journey is daunting. “I would sign for 23 Grand Slams right now,” he stated, expressing that amassing such titles is not only a challenge but also a profound motivation.

Ultimately, Alcaraz's dream is to retire with a legacy alongside legends like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. He strives for validation from fans and experts, hoping to stand proud among these greats. For him, crafting a legacy carries equal weight to winning titles, and succeeding at the Australian Open is a crucial step toward that goal.

The 2025 season has been a standout chapter in Alcaraz’s career, seeing him in three Grand Slam finals, where he triumphed at the French Open and the US Open, but fell to Italian rival Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final. Overall, Alcaraz showcased impressive consistency across all surfaces, keeping him atop the world rankings and solidifying his position as one of the year's most dominant players.

Before fully redirecting his focus to 2026, Alcaraz is eager to secure his first ATP Finals title. Remaining in excellent form, he is set to face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals. A victory in this tournament would further embellish an already outstanding year.

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