Alcaraz: 'The goal is try to win Grand Slams & Masters 1000s'

At only 21 years old, Carlos Alcaraz has already set plenty of records and made his mark in the sport. The Spaniard can check off another box if he emerges victorious at the Australian Open, the final major title missing from his collection.

It is no surprise that these are the trophies the former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is chasing.

“For me the goal is try to win Grand Slams, Masters 1000s. Those for me [are] the most important tournaments of the world,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously the ranking is up there in the goals, as well, trying to get as close as I can to Jannik [Sinner] or try to pass [Alexander] Zverev as well.

“The ranking is there. But mainly [the] thing for me is Grand Slams, trying to win as many Grand Slams as I can.”

Alcaraz has already won four major titles, more than the likes of the recently retired Andy Murray and former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka among other greats.

In 2024, the Spaniard split the Grand Slam tournaments with Jannik Sinner, who has been the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings since June. Alcaraz explained how their captivating Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry has fuelled him.

“When I'm playing against him, I have [a] different mindset, a little bit. When you’re facing the best players or the best player in the world, you have to do something different, different preparation, or different mindset,” Alcaraz said. “When I'm facing him, I just know that I have to play my best if I want to win. That's it. Probably if I have a bad day against Jannik, it's 99 per cent that you're going to lose. That's what is in my mind every time that I'm going to play against him.

“The good thing for me is when I'm seeing him winning titles, when I'm seeing him in the top of the rankings, [it] forces me to practise even harder every day. In the practice, I'm just thinking the things that I have to improve to play against him. That I think is great for me, having him, have such a great rivalry so far, just to give the best of me every day.”

Alcaraz and Sinner cannot meet until the final at Melbourne Park. The third seed will be focused on each match in front of him, starting with his opening clash against Alexander Shevchenko.

One year ago, Alcaraz fell in the quarter-finals at the season’s first Slam to Alexander Zverev. In 2024, he did not travel to Australia with Juan Carlos Ferrero, who missed the trip after undergoing surgery on his knee. The former World No. 1 is back in Alcaraz’s corner at Melbourne Park this edition.

“Juan Carlos with me six years now. He knows me really well. He knows what I need during the matches, how the things have to be said during the matches,” Alcaraz said. “As I said last year, for me, Juan Carlos is really important. I really like being with him in the tournaments. But last year, for example, I was with Samuel that right now is my second coach. I trust him 100 per cent as well.”

Lopez has taken a bigger role in Alcaraz’s team. The four-time major winner fully backed Lopez, who most recently coached Pablo Carreno Busta to the world’s Top 10.

“I knew that I had to be with someone else than Juan Carlos that can help Juanki sometimes and travel or mix or split tournaments. So have someone to refresh a little bit between tournaments is going to be great,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously [he] is someone that I trust 100 per cent. He's really good coach. [He] has been coach of Juan Carlos when he played. [He] is going to be a great coach for me, I'm sure.”