Two of tennis’s brightest young stars, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, are both incredibly close to achieving one of the sport’s rarest feats: the Career Grand Slam.
The Quest for All Four Majors
Both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are just one Grand Slam trophy shy of completing the prestigious Career Grand Slam. This monumental achievement means a player has won all four major tournaments – the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open – at least once in their career.
It’s a testament to their exceptional talent and rapid rise in the tennis world that they are on the cusp of such history at such young ages.
Alcaraz’s Missing Piece: The Australian Open
Carlos Alcaraz, at only 22 years old, already boasts an impressive collection of major titles. He has lifted the French Open trophy twice (in 2024 and 2025), won Wimbledon twice (2023 and 2024), and secured the US Open title in 2022.
For Alcaraz, the elusive title is the Australian Open. His best performance in Melbourne so far has been reaching the quarterfinals in both the last two editions.
Sinner’s Target: Roland Garros
Jannik Sinner’s Grand Slam resume is equally strong, though with a different set of wins. He has claimed two Australian Open titles (2024 and 2025), one Wimbledon championship (2025), and one US Open title (2024).
The one major missing from Sinner’s collection is the French Open. He came incredibly close this year, reaching the final and playing a memorable five-set match before narrowly losing to Alcaraz.
Who Has the First Opportunity?
Looking at the tennis calendar, Carlos Alcaraz has the immediate chance to complete his Career Grand Slam. The Australian Open is the first major of the new season, typically held in January, giving him an early opportunity to clinch the feat.
Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, will have to wait until the clay-court season for the French Open, which usually takes place in May and June.
A Rare Achievement in Tennis History
Achieving the Career Grand Slam is an incredibly rare feat in men’s tennis, especially in the Open Era (since 1968). Only five male players have managed it: Rod Laver (who also famously completed a calendar Grand Slam), Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
Rafael Nadal holds the record for the youngest male player to complete the Career Grand Slam, doing so at 24 years old at the 2010 US Open. Alcaraz, currently 22, has a chance to surpass Nadal’s record if he triumphs at the Australian Open in the next two editions.
Sinner, if he wins the French Open next year at 24, would still be older than Nadal was when the Spaniard completed his Career Grand Slam.
The New Era of Dominance
The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner has defined recent years in men’s tennis. Together, they have collectively won the last seven major trophies, starting from the 2024 Australian Open.
Their shared dominance signifies a new era in the sport. If one of them wins the upcoming US Open, it will mark the first time since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (in 2006 and 2007) that two men have claimed all four Slams in two consecutive calendar years.
- Carlos Alcaraz needs the Australian Open to complete his Career Grand Slam.
- Jannik Sinner needs the French Open to achieve the same feat.
- Alcaraz has the earliest chance to clinch it at the upcoming Australian Open.
- Only five men in the Open Era have achieved the Career Grand Slam.
- Alcaraz could become the youngest ever to reach this milestone.
The race for the Career Grand Slam between these two phenomenal talents promises to be one of the most compelling storylines in tennis for years to come.
