Carlos Alcaraz is setting his sights on a major milestone as he prepares for the Australian Open, completing his career Grand Slam. The 21-year-old Spanish tennis sensation, who already boasts four major titles, is determined to claim his first Australian Open title and add it to his impressive collection.
The Missing Piece: Australian Open
While Alcaraz's career has been marked by success, including a historic win at Wimbledon and his first French Open title last year, the Australian Open remains the elusive Grand Slam. Despite his achievements, he has never made it past the quarter-finals in Melbourne, and his journey in 2024 is already under the spotlight.
Last season was one of ups and downs for Alcaraz, with his form wavering at times despite his victories at other major tournaments. For this year’s campaign, the young Spaniard has chosen not to compete in any warm-up events, instead dedicating his pre-season to improving one of the most crucial aspects of his game, his serve.
A Renewed Focus on the Serve
“I didn’t have too much time in the pre-season, so I just worked as much as I could to do a good serve,” Alcaraz explained, revealing that his preparation in the lead-up to Melbourne was centred around perfecting his serving technique. He acknowledged that the process of adjustment would take time, but he remains optimistic about the results.
“Right now I'm still thinking about it. I'm still reminding myself how I have to do it. But every day is getting better and better, or I'm feeling better and better with it,” Alcaraz shared. While he is not expecting immediate perfection, he believes the changes he has made will ultimately benefit his game in the long run.
Tackling Serve Inconsistencies
Alcaraz highlighted rhythm as one of the key issues with his previous serving technique, acknowledging that he struggled to find consistency in hitting the right spots. “Before probably one of the most issues that I have on the serve is the rhythm. I didn’t get the good rhythm. So I think with this one I’m going to get a good rhythm just to hit in the right spot every time,” he said.
Alcaraz’s adjustments to his serve are expected to have a significant impact on his performance, allowing him to serve more naturally without overthinking the motion. He is confident that improved precision will follow.
Alcaraz Sets His Sights on History
The 21-year-old has made no secret of his ambition to make history, though his bold goals have not gone unnoticed by his competitors. In a recent interview, Novak Djokovic expressed some scepticism about Alcaraz's early pursuit of legacy. “I respect that kind of mentality of ‘Hey, I think I got the goods,'” Djokovic remarked. “But maybe it’s a little bit early for him to think about history.”
Alcaraz, undeterred by the comments, has his eyes firmly set on winning more Grand Slam titles, stating that the most important tournaments for him are “Grand Slams, try to win as much Grand Slams as I can.”
As the tournament kicks off, Alcaraz will face Alexander Shevchenko in the first round. Currently ranked third, Alcaraz trails behind rivals Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev but remains focused on climbing the rankings and securing more major victories. His resolve to improve his serve and his ambitions for the future are clear, and he’s ready to challenge for his first Australian Open title.