With each thunderous victory, Carlos Alcaraz inches closer to a rarefied realm! The Spaniard is blazing a trail of glory by winning consecutive Grand Slams this year. At first, we saw him attain his third grand slam at the French Open. But within one month, he earned another one at Wimbledon by defending his last year’s title! As per the pattern of his victories, earning one more slam this season doesn’t seem like a far-fetched dream! Highlighting this staggering potential of the 21-year-old player, tennis journalist, John Wertheim, has alluded to a unique feat that Alcaraz can achieve this season provided he wins the U.S. Open.

Very few have been able to join the elite group of tennis players who have won the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open in the same year. In men’s tennis, it was Rafael Nadal who created history by winning majors on clay, grass, and hard courts, what he calls his “best season,” in 2010. But mind you, he was the first man (and fourth in the history of the sport) to achieve this feat since Rod Laver, who also made his mark in this regard in 1969. In the women’s category, the name of Steffi Graf in this respect is unforgettable, as she had a similar success story in 1988. Now, fast forward to the present, and you will find Alcaraz on the verge of etching his name on the same list! 

Discussing this on the August 16th episode of Tennis Channel Live Podcast, the American sportscaster Steve Weissman, brought to attention the players who have achieved this impressive trifecta. In response, Wertheim emphasized Alcaraz’s remarkable rise, stating, “That is pretty impressive for a guy who is barely old enough to drink in this country. Keep in mind neither Federer, nor Djokovic has won French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open, gone summer three. Nadal did it in 2010. So year, Carlos Alcaraz we talk about him he’s an emerging player and if he wins the US Open, he will be in some very fast company.”

Wertheim’s mention of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer further sheds light on a different angle. While Federer was able to earn a French Open title and a Wimbledon crown consecutively in 2009, sadly, he could not win a U.S. Open title in the same year. Djokovic experienced a similar fate as well in 2021. And as Alcaraz has also made it to the ‘Channel Slam,’ (winning Wimbledon and French Open titles in the same year) list this season, a bigger opportunity awaits him now.

But whether he succeeds in extending his winning streak on the last Grand Slam of this season and surpasses Djokovic and Federer or not still remains to be seen. However, amid all the intense competition and records, Alcaraz’s objective stays clear.

Alcaraz opens up on his “dreams” in tennis

When Alcaraz took ownership of the court in Wimbledon, he made history by becoming the youngest player to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. However, the four-time Grand Slam champion wants to stay grounded and “improve” his skills to perform better on-court. While his list of accomplishments is growing, his dream of “getting closer to the legends” is also turning into reality.

“Well, obviously, I’ve seen, and I’ve heard, all the stats that I am the ‘youngest to win at Roland Garros and Wimbledon the same year’ (or) to win whatever. I honestly try not to think about it too much. Obviously it’s a really great start to my career, but I have to keep going. I have to keep building my path,” said Alcaraz, who is currently playing the Cincinnati Masters.

The Spaniard who won the U.S. Open in 2022 further added, “At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys. That’s my main goal. That’s my dream right now. It doesn’t matter if I already won four Grand Slams at the age of 21. If I (don’t) keep going … it doesn’t matter.” Alcaraz’s historic rise in tennis is undeniable and as he redefines the boundaries of excellence, hopefully, we will see him create new records in tennis!