By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Facing a one-set deficit to the Grand Slam king, Carlos Alcaraz transformed Rod Laver Arena into an intersection of imposition and inspiration.
Adjusting his game by playing with more shape on his shots, the 22-year-old Alcaraz powered past Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to capture his first AO championship and make history as the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.
Contesting his 20th major, Alcaraz claims his seventh Grand Slam crown.
Reflecting on his AO title run in a new interview with AS.com’s Nacho Albarrán, Alcaraz shed light into his competitive psyche. Alcaraz shared his greatest strength and weakness—and his response to criticism of cutting ties with former coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and hiring co-coach Samuel Lopez as head coach.
A master improviser, Alcaraz says his vast versatility is both his greatest gift—and biggest weakness. When down in matches, Alcaraz said sometimes so many tactical adjustments, shot selections and plotline possibilities swirl through his head choosing the right one can be challenging.
“In the end, I also have a fairly wide repertoire of things I can do. And that’s good and bad,” Alcaraz told AS.com. “It’s good because, when plan A doesn’t work and I’m being run over, I have the ability to do other things and change the dynamic.
“It’s bad because sometimes my head thinks seven different things in less than a second and I have to choose one, and many times I choose the wrong one.
“But hey, it’s a blessed problem. There is my team, which reassures me from the outside: that this level is not going to be maintained all the time, that I have to remain mentally strong and change a couple of things that look better from the outside… In that situation I realized how much I have improved mentally.”
Alcaraz is a unique champion in that he’s both the calm in the center of the chaotic storm—and simultaneously the shotmaking storm itself. Alcaraz’s insight on his strength and weakness echo comments he made to Tennis Now two weeks before winning his maiden major at the 2022 US Open. When we asked Alcaraz his greatest weapon then, he replied “my unpredictability, the opponent don’t know what’s coming next.”
When Alcaraz split with his coach—former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero—last December it sent shockwaves through the tennis world. During his wildly successful seven-year partnership with former world No. 1 Ferrero, Alcaraz won 24 titles, including 6 Grand Slam championships, rose to world No. 1 and earned more than $57 Million in prize money. Additionally, Ferrero earned ATP Coach of the Year honors in 2025 for the second time in the last four years.
Still, coach Samuel Lopez, who previously coached Ferrero, was a major contributor to Alcaraz’s Melbourne title run, particularly in the epic semifinals.
A courageous Alcaraz overcame apparent mid-match cramping, twice vomited into his towel, rallied from 3-5 down in the final set and reeled off four games in a row fending off Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 in a mind-blowing Melbourne marathon semifinal. During that match, Alcaraz repeatedly visited his support box, at the rear of the court, where Lopez supplied calm motivation reminding the Spanish superstar to “keep breathing” and “keep fighting.”
Obviously, Alcaraz deserves all the credit for the grit and guts she showed fighting off Zverev, but his support team never once pressed the panic button in that match—even as it appeared the cramps could cost him the semifinal.
Coach Lopez received the AO trophy on court and presented it to Alcaraz.
Toni Nadal, uncle and original coach of Rafael Nadal, criticized Alcaraz for neglecting to thank former coach Ferrero in his victory speech.
Speaking to AS.com, Alcaraz said Samuel Lopez is “one of the best—if not the best,” coaches in the sport. Alcaraz said he believes his AO title confirms Lopez’s status as a superior coach and refutes criticism skeptics delivered after he cut the cord with Ferrero.
“It’s very nice, and when I saw him there I was very happy because I know that Samuel has been working for this moment all his life,” Alcaraz said. “For me he is one of the best coaches – if not the best – that you can have on a tennis court today. For me it was a magical and super special moment: hugging him after the last point and also seeing him there, with all the people recognizing what he deserves.”
Ultimately, Alcaraz said the proof is in the results.
“I don’t think I have to prove anything to anyone, not even when I do things that people may not agree with,” Alcaraz said. “For example, with the subject of the documentary: there was a lot of talk about how I was not professional, that I like to enjoy myself, go out to party and so on. But one thing does not take away from the other.
“In the end, you don’t have to show the obvious. The obvious thing is that, to be number one in the world, to win seven Grand Slams, to be where I am, you need work, discipline, to be there day by day. I think that’s what people should realize and what I shouldn’t have to prove.”
The 22-year-old Spaniard now takes aim at winning the calendar Grand Slam. Asked his goals for the rest of this season, Alcaraz replied: “The Grand Slams are always there. The ATP Finals and Davis Cup are the main ones.”
