“For next year, Australia”: Carlos Alcaraz prioritises the Career Grand Slam over winning two majors in the 2026 season

Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Turin with the confidence of a season defined by both results and maturity: eight titles in ten finals, a second career year-end World No. 1, and an unbeaten run in the ATP Finals group stage with victories over Lorenzo Musetti, Alex de Minaur, and Taylor Fritz.

As he prepares to face Félix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals, Alcaraz showed his humility and told El Partidazo de Cope that he does not yet feel like the best player in the world, despite having secured the top spot for the year. “Yes, that’s what the ranking shows. But I’m not the best player in terms of tennis or level, because there are still many players who can beat me; I’ve lost to many players, so that doesn’t make me the best.”

He enters the semi-finals aware that external expectations have grown, especially now that a potential final against Jannik Sinner—their sixth meeting in a final this season—stands in sight. With six Grand Slam titles at just 22 years old, Alcaraz has already been compared to the members of the Big Three—Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer—and the World No. 1 has not hidden his desire to chase their records.

“That’s an end-of-career goal — that I can look back and see that I belong at that table, and that people also think I belong there. I believe I can. If I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t have ambition; I wouldn’t have goals. Having ambition and goals is important, and I believe I can get there.”

Another topic Alcaraz touched upon was the possibility of achieving the Career Grand Slam next year—becoming the youngest in history to do so, at just 22 years old. The Spaniard was asked whether, in 2026, he would prefer to win only the Australian Open, or if he would prefer to win two majors, but only in the venues where he has already lifted the trophy (French Open, Wimbledon, or US Open). “For the next year, Australia,” he commented, smiling.

His humility also appears when discussing the accomplishments of Novak Djokovic, whose 24 major titles still tower over the modern field. Alcaraz acknowledges the scale of that benchmark, especially as the media increasingly frames him as one of the few players capable of entering that territory.

The Spaniard was asked if he would sign now to finish his career with 23 major titles, or if he would prefer to keep fighting to surpass Novak Djokovic. “When you look at what Djokovic has done — 24 Slams — it’s unbelievable. Even 23 is unbelievable. That’s not normal. You have to respect that before you talk about anything else.”

The 22-year-old also talked about other legends like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, and if he believes he could have beaten them on their strongest surfaces. “Best Carlos Alcaraz on grass vs. Prime Federer in a Wimbledon final — who wins?” the interviewer asked, to which Alcaraz backed the Swiss Maestro. “Different eras… but I’d say Federer.”

Furthermore, the 2-time French Open champion referred to what a match against Rafa Nadal—14-time champion in Paris—in a Roland Garros duel would be like. “I’d say Rafa. I’ve told my team many times — I would have loved to play all of them in their prime and feel what players felt when they stood across the net from them. I was born in 2003, so I couldn’t. But Rafa, no doubt.”

With the year-end No. 1 secure for the second time—after first achieving it in 2022 when he won his maiden major at the US Open at 19—Alcaraz approaches the ATP Finals with a freer mindset. His semi-final against Auger-Aliassime presents a contrast of styles and a test of indoor discipline, a surface where the Canadian thrives. But Alcaraz’s evolution has made him more adaptable, especially in high-pressure tactical battles.

A potential final against Sinner, whom Alcaraz leads 4–1 this season, would embody the new era’s rivalry. While headlines often place them as heirs to Nadal–Federer or Djokovic–Murray, the Spaniard avoids those comparisons.

His next challenge will come in Bologna at the Davis Cup Finals, where Spain opens against the Czech Republic. This team event carries weight for him—emotionally and symbolically—as he continues to evolve from rising star to leader of Spanish tennis. Representing his country gives him a different form of adrenaline, an intensity that complements his goals on the ATP Tour. With six majors already behind him and a season of dominant results, he arrives at the competition as a cornerstone of the national squad, seeking to win the Davis Cup title with Spain for the first time in his career.