On the cusp of history in Australia: Alcaraz and Swiatek one major title away from career Grand Slam and curious record

Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek are closing on the coveted career Grand Slam. This is only possible if you win at every Grand Slam. However, a record is on the line if they can both win the title in the coming weeks in Melbourne.

Both players have six Grand Slams to their name spread out at the other three major events across the year. However, their form at those events have not been showcased at the Australian Open, the first major of the year. By their high standards, it is way below par from what they present on court everywhere else.

This is especially the case with Swiatek and Roland Garros. She burst onto the scene back in 2020, winning her first WTA Tour title in Paris. Ranked world number 54 and only aged 19 in a stunning achievement. She would go on to breeze to titles in 2022, 2023 and 2024 as she completed a stunning unbeaten record at the facilities. Her expertise on clay was recognisable, but she is also decent on the other surfaces. She won the US Open in 2022 and was imperious when winning Wimbledon in 2025, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 after a ruthless showing throughout the event.

For Alcaraz, his success has been spread out very fairly. He became the youngest ATP world number one at the end of a calendar year after winning the 2022 US Open. He would then win his first title at Wimbledon, defeating Djokovic in a brilliant final. He then won his first title in the French Open before once again winning on grass against the Serbian at SW19. He defended his title at Roland Garros in dramatic fashion in 2025, coming back from a two-set deficit while saving match points against Jannik Sinner to re-claim the title before losing his first major final at Wimbledon against the Italian. He made it an even six at the US Open a few months later, leaving both Alcaraz and Swiatek on the same amount of Grand Slams.

11 tennis players have completed the prestigious career Grand Slam. They go by the name of Rod Laver, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, and Novak Djokovic. 

Alcaraz and Swiatek can add their name to the iconic list of legends with a title Down Under, with both extremely motivated to get over the line. However, if they do this at the same time it will be the first time in its existence that a career Grand Slam is achieved at the same competition, with them just being stand-alone feats achieved at different tournaments and years. The duo are gunning for history, but will have to improve on their dismal Australian Open form.

Swiatek has had better off, but it is still not to the standards expected. The current world number two debuted in 2019, losing in the second round, A brace of fourth round exits followed before her best run yet saw her make the semi-finals in 2022. However, a surprise defeat to Danielle Collins put that aspiration on hold for another year. Another fourth round exit was culminated by a defeat in round three. A second semi-final in 2025 saw improvement, but once again going into a match against the American underdog, the Pole loses out. This time to the eventual champion Madison Keys.

Alcaraz has not even made the last four stage in his four appearances. The 2021 Australian Open was in fact his first Grand Slam main draw event. He was dumped out in the second round, but managed to improve a round in the next year. He was injured for the competition in 2023, and would then go on to lose in a brace of quarter-finals. In 2024 it was to Alexander Zverev in four sets before the same result occurred in his loss to 10-time champion Djokovic.

The Australian Open will take place from January 18 - February 1, with both players taking up a different form of preparation. Alcaraz is competing in the Hyundai Card Super Match in Incheon, South Korea on 10 January. The exhibition will pitch him up against Sinner. For Swiatek, she is representing Poland in the United Cup from January 2-11, looking to improve on the runners-up places they have secured the last two years.