Carlos Alcaraz wins Australian Open 2026: Numbers behind world number one’s historic victory

The next piece of history for Alcaraz will be emulating Laver as only the second man in the Open era to achieve a calendar slam – winning all four majors in the same year.

Asked about the possibility, Alcaraz said: “It is going to be a big challenge.

“I just want one at a time. The next is Roland Garros and I feel really special every time that I go there.

“I don’t want to put pressure on myself to have to do it.”

Sinner, as has been the case throughout each of the past two seasons, would appear to be his biggest barrier.

The Italian will have his chance to complete a career Grand Slam of his own at the French Open, having lost last year’s epic to Alcaraz.

Alcaraz or Sinner have been crowned champion at each of the past nine Grand Slam tournaments since Djokovic won the 2023 US Open.

Despite Alcaraz splitting with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero in December after seven years together, and Sinner’s loss to Djokovic in a thrilling five-set semi-final in Melbourne, their reign of dominance does not look set to end any time soon.

Praising Alcaraz after the final, Djokovic said: “The results are a testament to his already stellar career. He deserves every bit of the praise that he gets.

“He is already a legendary tennis player that made already a huge mark in the history books of tennis.

“Everything is possible in his case, no question about it.”