Carlos Alcaraz chases club’s all-time No. 1, career Grand Slam looms at Australian Open ATP Tour

ATP Tour

Alcaraz chases club’s all-time No. 1 ranking, career Grand Slam looms at Australian Open

The Spaniard could become just the sixth man in the Open era to achieve the feat

January 16, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz arrives at the 2026 Australian Open with more than just his first major trophy of the year in mind.

The world number one is gunning for the chance to complete a career Grand Slam and join another exclusive roster. If Alcaraz wins in Melbourne, he will become the sixth player in the Open era to win all four Grand Slam titles at least once and the fifth member of his club to be ranked No. 1 in the ATP rankings.

Alcaraz will join Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Rod Laver won all four majors in one season in 1969, but it was not until 1973 that the PIF ATP rankings were introduced. Since then, only four men have completed a career Grand Slam, each carving a unique path in tennis history.

Andre Agassi
After losing consecutive French Open finals in 1990 and 1991, Agassi finally crossed the finish line at a clay-court major eight years later in 1999. The American came from two sets down to defeat Andrei Medvedev in an epic final to become the first man in the PIF ATP Rankings era to complete a career Grand Slam.

“That day, between the lines on the tennis court, I knew I wouldn’t have any regrets,” Agassi recalled to Tennis Channel last year. “This is the last of four races I’ve won. This is a race I could have won a few times 10 years ago.”

During his career, Agassi won eight Grand Slam titles and remained world No. 1 for 101 weeks before retiring in 2006.

roger federer
Federer also completed his career Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2009, when he finally conquered the one Grand Slam that eluded him. After losing three consecutive finals to his great rival Rafael Nadal, he defeated Robin Soderling in straight sets.

“This was probably my greatest victory, or rather the victory that took the most pressure off my shoulders,” Federer said after the match. “I think for the rest of my career I can enjoy playing and never hear that I never won the French Open.”

The Swiss legend lifted 20 major trophies during his career, including winning three other major trophies at least five times. In 2011, he reached the French Open final again, but was stopped by Nadal for the fourth time.

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Rafael Nadal
Nadal won the career Grand Slam at the 2010 U.S. Open, becoming the youngest player in the Open era to achieve this feat. The victory marked one of the Spaniard’s most dominant years, as he won each of the last three Grand Slams to complete a rare surface sweep.

By winning the 2022 Australian Open, Nadal achieved two career Grand Slams, winning each of the four Grand Slams at least twice – a testament to his ability to adapt beyond a record 14 French Open titles. The Spaniard ended his career with 22 Grand Slam trophies and developed a reputation for competitive intensity.

Novak Djokovic
Djokovic completed his career Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2016, joining Federer and Nadal in a golden era defined by the historic Lexus ATP head-to-head rivalry. He had lost three previous finals – twice to Nadal (2012, ’14) and once to Stan Wawrinka (2015) – but made no mistakes in his four-set comeback victory over Andy Murray.

“It’s very flattering to know that Rod Laver was the last person to do it,” said Djokovic, who also holds all four Grand Slam titles. “There aren’t a lot of words to describe it. It’s one of the ultimate challenges as a tennis player. I’m very proud, very excited.”

Djokovic went on to complete the career Grand Slam three times, becoming the only person in history to do so. He won a record 24 Grand Slam titles and remained at No. 1 for 428 weeks throughout his career.

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Crossroads of Alcaraz
Now six-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz is set to join that elite group. Over the next two weeks, history will be played out again for the 22-year-old at Melbourne Park.

“Honestly, that’s my No. 1 goal,” Alcaraz said after winning the 2025 U.S. Open, referring to completing the career Grand Slam. “When I go to pre-season [see] What I want to improve on, what I want to achieve, the Australian Open is there.

“Completing the career grand slam, the calendar grand slam is always my main goal…so this will be great.”