Carlos Alcaraz is looking to complete the illustrious career slam.
Therefore, with more competition on tour and the dominant Jannik Sinner rapidly improving, it comes as no shock the Spaniard has made a big change ahead of the 2025 season.
Alcaraz has been one of the most successful players since his maiden US Open title in 2022, with the 21-year-old already reaching the world No 1 and winning four Grand Slams.
The unique ‘career grand slam’ – someone who has won all four of the major championships has only been completed by seven men previously showing the rare and unique achievement it is.
Now there is one major goal the Spaniard wants to achieve in 2025 and that is to win the Australian Open when it begins in January, he admitted.
“I am a very ambitious person and I want to win the Australian Open to complete the career Grand Slam,” Alcaraz said.
“I want 2025 to be even more exciting. Let’s say I want more. Australia is what I want to tattoo, even if my father doesn’t like it very much. Being champion there is my main goal for next season.”
Despite a hugely successful 2024 overall for the 21-year-old having won the French Open and his second Wimbledon title, Alcaraz’s form dipped by the end of the year while Sinner dominated.
Gael Monflis eliminated the four-time Grand Slam champion in Cincinnati before he was knocked out of the US Open by Botic van de Zandschlup.
Alcaraz did win the China Open in October but lost in Shanghai before losing at the Paris Masters and then suffering an early exit at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Such developments have sent Alcaraz looking for a change and this has come in the form of his racket.
His coach Samuel Lopez in an interview with Marca confirmed that Alcaraz will play with a heavier racket.
“With that acceleration that he has, he’s going to gain in power and ball weight.
“With his impact quality, with a heavier racquet, just by touching the ball in front of you, you take more advantage of the force of how it comes to you.
“It’s been very noticeable these days in the return,” Lopez told Marca.
Another change that the 21-year-old is implementing ahead of the new season is a new service motion.
Alcaraz’s other coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, confirmed in another interview that he will work on the Spaniard’s service.
Win down under and he joins Roger Federer, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as the only men players in the Open era to win the ‘career slam’.
Should Alcaraz, 21, be victorious in Melbourne he will be the youngest man to do it, surpassing Nadal’s record.