Australian Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz muscles in on history and kangaroo tattoo

The Spanish big gun has lifted the trophy at Roland Garros (getting a tattoo of the Eiffel Tower), The All England Club (strawberry) and Flushing Meadows (the date of his victory). On Friday he moved closer to completing a career grand slam and some more ink work.

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates progressing past Nuno Borges at the Australian Open.

Sun’s out. Guns out. Not that Carlos Alcaraz needs incandescent blue Melbourne skies to slip into a muscle shirt. He’ll brandish the biceps, triceps and voluminous deltoids in rain, hail, thunderstorm, sleet or snow.

Here’s a fella well-equipped to win an arm wrestle. On Friday, he moved just four more wins from becoming the youngest player to complete the career grand slam by overpowering Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 at the Australian Open, displaying the strongest arms since Popeye and the biggest forehand since Rafael Nadal, swarthy and charismatic enough to ditch the singlet for a torero … the outlandish, big-shouldered red outfit worn by Spanish bullfighters.

Then again, in tennis, Alcaraz is the bull. His forehand is so explosive it’s nearly cartoonish; all biceps, triceps and deltoids, with some clavicle and brachialis thrown in. We used to wonder, how would tennis replace Nadal for entertainment and electricity? With another Nadal. The sport has its share of robotic practitioners but Alcaraz competes with a palpable freedom and joy. All guns were blazing as he reached round four.

Alcaraz moved just four more wins from becoming the youngest player to complete the career grand slam by overpowering. Picture: Michael Klein

“I always say that it’s hard work,” Alcaraz said. “I try to bring the best of me every day. That’s the secret. Every day I try to be a better person and better player.“

The men’s career grand slam has only been completed by Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Fred Perry and Don Budge. It can take a lifetime to achieve. Alcaraz needs only the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup to wrap it up at the age of 21. He could retire on the spot and never be forgotten. “I have it in mind to get a tattoo of a kangaroo,” he told Spanish outlet Marca recently. “The goal is to complete the grand slam in Melbourne.”

Alcaraz has lifted the trophy at Roland Garros (getting a tattoo of the Eiffel Tower), The All England Club (strawberry) and Flushing Meadows (the date of his victory) but never gone beyond the quarter-finals here. Devastated to lose last year’s Paris Olympics final to Djokovic, he coughed up a shock second-round US Open loss to Botic van de Zandschulp as though he was still weeping. He looks to have rediscovered his commando-rolling best.

“People say that nobody will ever break my records,” 24-slam champion Djokovic told GQ magazine. “But I doubt it. I mean, Carlos could be next. Even Jannik (Sinner). Carlos has done something that nobody has done in history, being so young. I think he has every chance … He wants to be the best in history. I respect that kind of mentality, like, ‘Hey, I think I have what it takes’. But maybe it’s a little early to think about history.”

If you want a snippet of Alcaraz’s athleticism and star quality, watch a replay of the deuce point at 3-3 in the third set. He hit a freakish smash from behind the baseline; scampered low to retrieve a drop shot; leapt high for a backhand smash; dived full-length for a backhand volley; let go of his racquet while horizontal to the court; his racquet made contact after it had left his hand; the volley still went in; Alcaraz finished the point flat on his back while the crowd went bonkers.

Week two is approaching. When the big guns come out to play.

“Has been a pleasure,” Alcaraz told the packed RLA crowd. “Just a privilege to feel this love here in Australia. I’m trying to play different tennis. Different kinds of shots. That’s what makes me enjoy playing tennis. What makes me smile on court. And I try to entertain the people. Making them happy – that is very important to me.”