Alcaraz 2026: Can He Win Four Grand Slams?

Alcaraz carefully chooses his words at the press conference when he is asked about the so-called grand slam, also known as ‘calendar slam’. After all, winning the four largest tennis tournaments in one year is a task of gigantic proportions.

It is not without reason that it has been 57 years since Australian Rod Laver was the last man to win the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in one calendar year.

Novak Djokovic was on track to match that feat in 2021, but failed in the US Open final against Daniil Medvedev. Steffi Graf is the last women’s tennis player with a Gramd Slam. The German did that in 1988.

For Alcaraz, all these reflections on the future are not necessary. “I don’t want to put myself in a position where I always feel the pressure of having to perform. For me it is mainly a matter of continuing to work hard.”

At 22 years and 272 days, Alcaraz became the youngest man in Melbourne since the introduction of professional tennis in 1968 to win the four different Grand Slam tournaments at least once.

He is a lot younger than legendary tennis players like Rafael Nadal (24 years-88 days), Roger Federer (27-290) or Novak Djokovic (29-1) were when they achieved this.

At the age of 22, Alcaraz now has seven Grand Slam titles to his name. For comparison: Djokovic has 24 titles, but only won his seventh Grand Slam trophy when he was 27 years old. The Serbian won his first Grand Slam title at the age of 22.

Alcaraz still has a while to go to reach Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slam titles, but everything has to be right. Moreover, the Spaniard will continue to feel the hot breath of Jannik Sinner (24) on his neck in the coming years.

In any case, the world number one still sees plenty of challenges himself. “I hate to lose, that’s already a motivation,” Alcaraz smiles. “I also want to win the Davis Cup and there are still a number of 1000 tournaments that I have not won yet.”

Due to his title in Melbourne, it has become doubtful whether Alcaraz will play at the ABN Amro Open in Rotterdam in a week and a half.

The Spaniard explains in general terms how difficult he sometimes finds it to enjoy victories and that a moment of reflection (read: taking a rest) is sometimes also important.

Alcaraz: “Tennis is wonderful, but the bad side is that we have tournaments week after week, so you sometimes don’t realize what you are doing.”