Carlos Alcaraz is through to his second consecutive Australian Open quarter-final. The Spaniard is seeking a Career Grand Slam in Melbourne, and his path could include Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner!
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Carlos has already collected essentialrecords at the first Major of the season, including one that introduces him to the story with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Namely, Alcaraz is the third-youngest player in the Open era to win ten matches at all four Majors!
Interestingly, Nadal, Djokovic and Alcaraz completed this feat in Melbourne, needing the most attempts Down Under to reach the milestone tenth victory. Rafa could have done it earlier. He skipped the Australian Open in 2006 and notched the tenth win two years later.
At 21 years and seven months, the Spaniard left behind the great players from the past but did not hit the top! Djokovic's tenth Australian Open victory came in the final that year against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Novak found his consistency at Majors before turning 20.
However, he suffered two early Australian Open defeats in 2005 and 2006, which means he could have accomplished this record at the US Open four months earlier. At 20 years and eight months, Novak is the youngest player in the Open era with ten triumphs at all four Majors.
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Alcaraz joined the party this week. The Spaniard became a Major champion at 19 in 2022 and started his incredible journey. At 21 years and two months, he became afour-time Major winner and wrote history books.
Carlos only needs the Australian Open crown to achieve a Career Grand Slam at such a young age and increase already his incredible legacy. The Spaniard debuted at Majors in Melbourne four years ago at 17. He scored one win and addedtwo more in 2022.
Alcaraz experienced a setback and skipped the Australian Open in 2023 due to an injury, remaining on three wins Down Under. The young gun added four wins last year, reaching his first Australian Open quarter-final before falling to Alexander Zverev.
Carlos needed three wins inthis year's campaign to become the third-youngest player with ten wins at all Majors. He delivered them in style, with the milestonecoming against Nuno Borges. Alcaraz accomplished the feat at 21 years and eight minutes, joining the legends at the top.
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The Spaniard ousted the Portuguese 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 in just under three hours. Carlos never lost serve, although he did not like how he performed in sets two and three. Borges played against 13 break points and suffered five breaks.
Alcaraz dominated sets one and four, hitting well and overcoming a couple of challenging periods to move through and earn his tenth Australian Open win. It has to be said that many players in the past could have joined them on the list.
Many, including Bjorn Borg, missed the Australian Open during the 1970s and 1980s. Some others struggled on particular surfaces, needing more time to adjust their games and become competitive.
However, Djokovic, Nadal and Alcaraz lead an entertaining list, and we will see who movescloser to them in the future.
