Carlos Alcaraz enters the Australian Open as title favorite alongside two-time defending champion and rival Jannik Sinner. Photograph: AFP
MELBOURNE:
Carlos Alcaraz warned Friday that he was “hungry” to interrupt his Australian Open title drought and turn out to be the youngest man to finish a profession Grand Slam, calling it his main goal in 2026.
The world primary from Spain is the title favorite together with two-time defending champion and nice rival Jannik Sinner.
The Melbourne Park crown is the one one of many 4 majors that Alcaraz has by no means received, his finest efficiency the quarter-finals in 2024 and 2025.
If he goes all the way in which this 12 months he’ll surpass fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal because the youngest man to win all 4 majors. Nadal was 24 when he achieved the feat.
The 22-year-old Alcaraz, who begins his title assault in opposition to Australia’s 79th-ranked Adam Walton, stated he couldn’t wait to get going.
“I feel that is my foremost aim for this 12 months,” stated Alcaraz, whose solely warm-up was a win in opposition to Italy’s Sinner in a light-hearted exhibition match in South Korea.
“So it may be actually attention-grabbing for me how I ready, which I feel I simply made a very good pre-season, simply to be in a good condition.
“I am simply hungry for the title, hungry to do a very good outcome right here. I am simply preparing as a lot as I can.
“I am actually excited concerning the match starting.”
Alcaraz was requested by reporters if he would swap titles in any respect three of the opposite majors this 12 months for one Melbourne crown.
Underlining simply how essential successful the Australian Open and nailing the profession Grand Slam is to him, he stated he couldn’t resolve.
“I do not know which one I’d select,” he stated, smiling broadly.
“Clearly full the profession Grand Slam is one thing superb to do, be capable of be the youngest that has carried out it earlier than, you recognize, is even higher.”
No change after cut up
There was a lot give attention to Alcaraz’s teaching group within the build-up to Melbourne.
In December the six-time main champion abruptly introduced that he was splitting from coach Juan Carlos Ferrero after seven massively profitable years collectively, with assistant Samuel Lopez taking on.
Alcaraz started working with Ferrero, a former world primary, when he was an adolescent.
Quizzed by reporters for the explanations behind the shock cut up, Alcaraz stated that it felt like the fitting time to finish the partnership and was a mutual choice.
“With Juan Carlos, we determined to do it. I am simply having loads of confidence within the group that I’ve proper now,” he stated.
“As I stated, observe has been actually good. I am simply feeling properly.
“So simply excited concerning the match starting with the group that I’ve proper now.”
