Grand slam and a kangaroo? Alcaraz’s Aussie keepsake

Carlos Alcaraz is planning a small kangaroo tattoo to mark his historic victory at the Australian Open, where he defeated Novak Djokovic to become the youngest male player at 22 to complete a career Grand Slam. While Alcaraz set the men’s record, the youngest player overall to complete a career Slam was Steffi Graf , who did it at just 19 years old in 1988, and Serena Williams achieved the feat at 21 years, 4 months in 2003, both younger than Alcaraz’s mark. His tattoo decision will commemorate a personal and historic milestone in tennis history.

Alcaraz posed for photographs on Monday with the ornate Australian Open trophy at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building , dressed casually in black loafers with no socks. In a social media post during the shoot, he shared his joy with fans: “I still can't believe that I just made it. A dream come true for me, a career Grand Slam . I'm enjoying this amazing moment. I can't forget the support and the love I've received.”

After his 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 win over Djokovic, a ten-time Australian Open champion , Alcaraz admitted the intensity of the final point. “Before the last point… a lot of things came to my mind. I was really nervous, almost shaking. So once I saw the ball go out, I was like, alright, I made it. It was a great feeling , thinking about my family and my team as well.”

Now, Alcaraz is turning his focus to completing other career milestones . He aims to win the remaining three Masters 1000 tournaments , the Canadian Open, Shanghai, and Paris Masters , along with the ATP Finals and a Davis Cup with Spain. “I hate to lose, so that's my motivation,” he said. “I want to win every tournament I can, for myself and for my country.”

By achieving the career Grand Slam , Alcaraz joined an elite list of men’s tennis legends , including Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Djokovic. Remarkably, he achieved this feat younger than all of them , 91 days younger than Budge and considerably younger than Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic.

Reflecting on his journey, Alcaraz emphasized the importance of savoring the moment . “What I've learned this year is to appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you're living, not only lifting the trophies but playing tournaments, winning and losing. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life you're living.”

Acknowledging Djokovic as an inspiration, Alcaraz hopes to sustain a long career but remains realistic about the challenges ahead. “Let's see how long I will be playing. Hopefully I can stay in great shape at 38, competing with young players, and playing in Grand Slam finals ,” he said.