Carlos Alcaraz says completing career Slam his ‘first goal’

NEW YORK – Carlos Alcaraz says winning the 2026 Australian Open to seal a career Grand Slam is his main objective after securing a sixth Major title in New York on Sept 7.

Alcaraz beat chief rival Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to claim his second US Open crown and would become the youngest man to win all four Majors, if he lifts the trophy in Melbourne next January.

“It’s my first goal, to be honest,” said the 22-year-old Alcaraz, who has not made it past the quarter-finals in four trips to Australia.

“When I just go to the pre-seasons to (see) what I want to improve, what I want to achieve, Australian Open is there.

“It’s the first or second tournament of the year, and it is always the main goal for me to complete a career Grand Slam, calendar Grand Slam. So it’s going to be great.”

Alcaraz’s compatriot Rafael Nadal holds the record as the youngest man to win all four Majors. He achieved the feat at the age of 24 in 2010, when he won the first of his four US Open titles.

“Obviously, I’m going to try to do it next year, but if it is not next year, hopefully, in two and three and four. So I will try to complete it,” added Alcaraz.

He also reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking from Sinner, returning to the top of the men’s game for the first time since September 2023.

“When you achieve the goals you set up yourself at the beginning of the year, it feels amazing,” said Alcaraz. “Since I got the chance to recover the No. 1, it was one of the first goals that I had during the season...

“Doing it the same day as getting another Grand Slam feels even better.”

Alcaraz dropped just one set throughout the tournament and continued his recent mastery of Sinner, getting revenge for his loss to the Italian in the Wimbledon final.

“The performance today was perfect,” said Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Alcaraz and Sinner are the torchbearers of the current generation, sweeping the last eight Majors between them and taking 10 of the last 13. Novak Djokovic has won the other three.

Ferrero knows Alcaraz has the talent to hoover up considerably more silverware in the years to come but is doing his best to ensure his protege keeps working hard at his craft.

“The potential to win many titles, many Grand Slams, is there, but we take nothing for granted. Nothing is automatic; you have to make it happen,” said Ferrero.

“He’s 22 years old; we can’t think he’s perfect, far from it. He has a lot of things to improve on.”

Sinner, meanwhile, has identified what he has to improve on to reignite his rivalry with Alcaraz.

At first glance, Sinner and Alcaraz will finish 2025 with honours even at the most demanding level of the sport, with two Grand Slam titles apiece.

But Sinner has now lost seven of his last eight matches against Alcaraz, with his lone victory over the Spaniard in 2025 coming in the Wimbledon final in July.

That run of results, culminating in the Flushing Meadows loss, is cause for concern for the 24-year-old, who believes a riskier, less “predictable” approach is necessary if he is to keep pace with Alcaraz.

The Italian also drew a contrast between his “predictability” and how Alcaraz “in the way of he did many things, he changed up the game”.

Sinner said he would be willing to sacrifice results in the short term as he attempts to develop a more rounded game.

“I’m going to maybe even losing some matches from now on,” he said.

“But trying to do some changes, you know, trying to be a bit more unpredictable as a player, because I think that’s what I have to do to become a better tennis player.”

The final was delayed and thousands of seats remained empty when it finally got under way, as security checks related to President Donald Trump’s attendance caused confusion and slowed entry.

Fans waited in long lines, some for well over an hour, outside Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis venue in the world with a nearly 24,000-person capacity. US Secret Service and other federal security officers checked bags and ushered fans through metal detectors.

Some attendees who were still outside booed as the final began a little before 3pm local time.

A Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement: “We recognise that enhanced security for the President’s visit to the US Open may have contributed to delays for attendees. We sincerely thank every fan for their patience and understanding.”

Inside the stadium, Mr Trump was greeted by a mix of cheers and boos when he was shown on the screens.

The match start time, originally set for 2pm, was pushed back by 30 minutes due to security checks, US Open organisers said shortly before it began. AFP, REUTERS