Carlos Alcaraz has his sights set on a major milestone at the start of the 2025 tennis season. The young Spanish sensation, already a four-time Grand Slam champion, is laser-focused on capturing his first Australian Open title. If he succeeds, he plans to commemorate the achievement with a unique and symbolic tattoo—a kangaroo—signifying the completion of a Career Grand Slam. This personal goal reflects both Alcaraz’s ambition and his playful approach to marking significant milestones in his already illustrious career.
The 22-year-old’s journey to Grand Slam glory has been nothing short of remarkable. This year, he added two more major titles to his name: a triumphant maiden victory at the French Open and a successful defense of his Wimbledon crown. Alcaraz’s impressive Grand Slam resume already includes the 2022 US Open, making him one of the sport’s brightest young stars. However, the Australian Open has proven to be a tougher challenge for him, with Melbourne Park remaining the one major where he has yet to advance beyond the quarterfinals.
Since his Australian Open debut in 2021, when he exited in the second round as a qualifier, Alcaraz’s fortunes Down Under have been mixed. The following year, he reached the third round before being sidelined by a knee injury, which forced him to withdraw from the 2023 edition. This year, Alcaraz made it to the quarterfinals but was defeated in a surprising upset by Alexander Zverev. As the former world No. 1 prepares for another attempt at Australian Open glory in 2025, he is determined to rewrite his story in Melbourne and complete his coveted Career Grand Slam.
Speaking to *Marca* about his ambitious plans, Alcaraz revealed how deeply he has thought about achieving this milestone. “I have it in mind, I have in mind to get a tattoo of the kangaroo. I’m going to try to have a good holiday first. For me, it’s super important to be able to disconnect from tennis. And to come back fresh for the pre-season so that it’s brilliant, brutal, to arrive in Australia in the best possible shape both tennis-wise, physically, and mentally. The goal is to complete the Grand Slam in Melbourne,” he said.
While Alcaraz’s accomplishments in 2024 have been impressive, capturing two major titles and earning a silver medal in his Olympic debut, he acknowledges there is still room for growth. Reflecting on his performance this year, the Spaniard highlighted areas in his game that need fine-tuning, particularly his serve. He emphasized that he and his coach, former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, will use the offseason to identify and address specific aspects of his game to further elevate his performance.
“There are specific things. Of course, I would like to improve my serve more, obviously I have to do that, and other things that I prefer not to say now because my rivals will know them. I am going to sit down with Juan Carlos and write down in a notebook, on paper, what things we are going to work on specifically during the preseason,” Alcaraz said, outlining a clear plan for continued improvement.
Despite falling short of his ultimate goal at the Australian Open in 2024, Alcaraz’s performance was commendable. Returning to Melbourne Park after missing the 2023 edition, he looked determined and confident. Through the first four rounds, he dropped just one set, showcasing his powerful baseline game, athleticism, and fighting spirit. His journey, however, ended at the hands of Zverev, who defeated him 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-4 in a quarterfinal clash that left Alcaraz reflecting on his performance.
“Well, it has been a good tournament for me, making quarterfinals, playing good tennis. As I said, I’m sad with my level today, because I have been playing good tennis, you know, the round before this one with a lot of confidence. Serving pretty well that I didn’t show this good level of serves that I was showing before this match,” Alcaraz said in his post-match reflection. His words conveyed both disappointment and a resolve to learn and improve. “In general, you know, I leave the tournament happy. Forgetting about today’s level. But in general, I think I did a pretty good tournament. You know, I played great matches. And obviously, quarterfinal of a Grand Slam is good. It’s not what I’m looking for, but it is not bad.”
Alcaraz’s sentiments reflect a mindset of growth and ambition. While he recognizes that reaching the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam is an achievement, he holds himself to the highest standards. For the Spaniard, merely reaching the later stages of a major tournament is not enough—he is focused on winning titles and continuing to push the limits of his abilities.
As the 2025 season approaches, Alcaraz will undoubtedly be one of the top contenders for the Australian Open title. If he remains healthy and continues to refine his game, there is every reason to believe he can achieve his goal of completing a Career Grand Slam. For Alcaraz, the prospect of celebrating such a milestone with a kangaroo tattoo is a playful reminder of his youth, determination, and the passion he brings to the sport. Tennis fans around the world will be watching closely as he embarks on this next chapter of his journey, hoping to witness more magic from one of the brightest talents in the game.