By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Photo credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty
Carlos Alcaraz knows all about creating colorful displays on Grand Slam stages.
Alcaraz’s main mission for 2025 is clear: capture a maiden Australian Open to complete the career Grand Slam.
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Inspired by imagination, Alcaraz fought off Alexander Zverev 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in a four hour, 19-minute marathon to capture his first Roland Garros championship with a fervent finish that sent him into history.
Two-time Wimbledon winner Alcaraz is a champion for all surfaces making history as the youngest man to capture Grand Slam championships on the three major surfaces: hard court (2022 US Open), grass (2023-2024 Wimbledon) and his native surface red clay in Paris.
The 21-year-old Spanish superstar told Tennis Now mastering Melbourne is his main mission.
“I always say that I’m an ambitious guy, that I’m working in a big way to be a good tennis player for the Grand Slams,” Alcaraz told Tennis Now in Manhattan on Tuesday. “I think that’s what everybody wants: To be a Grand Slam champion, to make a really good result at the Grand Slams.
“So yes, I won three of them. I really want to do a good preseason, to be in good shape going to Australia. Going confident that I know I have chances to win Australia.”
Alcaraz, who lost to Zverev in the 2024 AO quarterfinals, has yet to surpass the last eight in Melbourne, but believes the surface suits his strengths.
Before Melbourne comes New York City.
Tonight, Alcaraz squares off against Ben Shelton in The Garden Cup exhibition at Madison Square Garden just a mile away from the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in Rockefeller Center.
MSG Networks and Tennis Channel will be airing The Garden Cup live from Madison Square Garden starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time. In an all-American clash, US Open finalist Jessica Pegula plays US Open semifinalist Emma Navarro.
Meeting about eight members of the media in a round table Q & A at the Essex House on Central Park South on Tuesday, Alcaraz addressed his ambition.
“I’m sure that sooner or later I’ll be Australian [Open] champion,” Alcaraz told Tennis Now. “Hopefully, this year. For me, it’s really, really important to complete the career Grand Slam.”
Fourteen years ago, Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz’s tennis hero and Olympic doubles partner, won the 2010 US Open to complete the career Grand Slam at the age of 24. Roger Federer, Alcaraz’s stylistic inspiration, was 27 years old when he defeated Robin Soderling in the 2009 Roland Garros final to win his first French Open and complete the career Grand Slam.
After Alcaraz and his Spanish Davis Cup teammates helped give Nadal an emotional send-off at last month’s Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, Spain, the Wimbledon winner took a much-needed break to rest and recharge. Alcaraz and some of his best friends went to the Dominican Republic.
When he's wrapped up his American exhibitions, Alcaraz said he will return home to Spain to rest and train ahead of his Melbourne mission.
“I had one week and a half where I did not touch a tennis racquet,” Alcaraz said. “I just throw it in my room and I did not want to see it again.
“I took time to disconnect a little bit…to have more energy when I’m gonna come back. I spent time with my family, with my friends. Three or four days I at home and then I went to Punta Cana [Dominican Republic] with my friends. That really helped me a lot. Rest a little bit mentally and physically a as well.
“All December I’m going to spent at home practicing for preseason. Being at home for me for a month is [unusual]. So I’m going to try to enjoy as much as I can that time and train and try to be ready for Australia.”