Alcaraz: “I’ll Celebrate My Australian Open Wins With a Kangaroo Tattoo”

Carlos Alcaraz is undoubtedly one of the brightest stars of his generation, having achieved success in Grand Slam tournaments across all surfaces. However, the Spanish player will head to the Australian Open seeking a new milestone in his burgeoning career.

If Alcaraz wins the title at Melbourne Park later this month, the 21-year-old, who has already claimed the French Open and Wimbledon, would become the youngest player to achieve a Career Grand Slam.

Winning the Australian Open would place the 2022 US Open champion among an elite group of players, including Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players of the modern era.

While Alcaraz has never advanced past the quarterfinals in his three previous visits to Melbourne, the current world No. 3 remains optimistic about achieving glory in the tournament, scheduled from January 12 to 26.

Speaking to Marca, Alcaraz said, “I’m thinking of getting a kangaroo tattoo,” referring to a tradition of commemorating major victories with body art.

He added, “The goal is to complete the Career Grand Slam in Melbourne.”

Despite his optimism, Alcaraz acknowledges that Jannik Sinner outperformed him in 2024, with the Italian enjoying a near-perfect season that included victories at the Australian Open and US Open.

Alcaraz also suffered a painful loss to Novak Djokovic in the Paris Olympics final and faced criticism for inconsistency after a second-round exit at the US Open.

However, he silenced critics by winning the China Open, defeating Sinner in the final. “Every player aims to reach finals and go as far as possible in tournaments. This year, I’ve had great tournaments and some really bad ones. My ultimate goal is to reach at least the semifinals or finals to give myself a chance to win titles. I need to keep working. I’m still very young, so I hope to have many years of competing at the highest level. Let’s see what 2025 holds—I hope to be a better, more consistent player.”

Roger Federer, who watched Alcaraz live for the first time when the Spaniard successfully defended his Wimbledon title after winning Roland Garros, believes he has what it takes to claim the only major title that has eluded him so far.

“Alcaraz will win the Australian Open; the question is when,” Federer said. “He’s already having an incredible career. Winning four majors without considering all his other accomplishments is impressive. He’s done a fantastic job.