Can Carlos Alcaraz win a Calendar Slam Next Year?

Carlos Alcaraz’s rapid rise is no longer a story of potential; it’s a reality marked by numbers and historic wins. Since his 2023 Wimbledon triumph over Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz has firmly establish himself as one of the sport’s defining figures. In 2024, he reached at least the quarterfinals at every Grand Slam, winning two of them, and finished the season ranked inside the ATP top three. By mid-2025, he had already lifted multiple ATP titles, adding to his tally of more than 15 career titles before turning 22. His record across surfaces illustrates his versatility: a win percentage above 70% on both clay and hard courts, and remarkable early success rate on grass despite limited experience.

Winning a calendar Grand Slam, claiming all four majors in a single season, is one of sport’s most elusive feats, achieved only (on the men’s side) by Rod Laver in the Open Era – albeit not on three surfaces. What makes Alcaraz intriguing is that his profile fits the rare mould of players who could challenge for it. His comfort on every surface is striking. On clay, he moves with balance and intensity reminiscent of Rafael Nadal. On grass, his improvisation calls to mind Roger Federer. On hard courts, his aggression and defensive elasticity bring shades of Novak Djokovic. Few young players have shown such universal adaptability so early in their careers.

Beyond a mastery of all three surfaces, Alcaraz has already built a physical base that allows him to outlast older opponents in gruelling matches. His explosive sprints, elastic defence, and quick recovery point to a body built for the relentless schedule required to chase down history. Mentally, he has shown maturity beyond his years, thriving under pressure against icons like Djokovic and handling the weight of expectation with poise. For a calendar Slam, this resilience is crucial; fatigue and mental lapses are often the biggest stumbling blocks. And with his all-court creativity, from daring drop shots to fearless net approaches, he avoids falling into predictable patterns, a quality that gives him a unique edge in seven-match campaigns at each Slam.

Still, the calendar Slam is brutally unforgiving. Injuries, scheduling demands, and the depth of competition make it a near-impossible pursuit. Djokovic’s unsuccessful pursuit in 2022 demonstrates that much with the Serbian looking exhausted in losing the 2021 US Open final – falling just one match short of emulating Laver.

A congested tour schedule makes injury management essential already; he has experienced brief setbacks with muscle fatigue and forearm strain. His rivals will have a role to play: Jannik Sinner has developed into a consistent foil, winning head-to-head battles that remind Alcaraz he is not invincible. And the mental weight of being tennis’ foremost star will be a burden to bear,

Despite these obstacles, Alcaraz feels like a player born for history-making achievements. His energy, charisma, and relentless improvement are aligned with the qualities that define legends. If he avoids long-term injuries and continues to refine his tactical patience, the stars could one day align for him.

Indeed, Alcaraz is uniquely equipped for this challenge. His career win rate of around 78% before turning 22 surpasses where Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic were at the same age. His creativity, charisma, and adaptability set him apart from contemporaries, while his fearless approach to tennis’s biggest stages suggests he thrives under expectations rather than shrinks from them.

The calendar Grand Slam is the sport’s ultimate prize. For decades, tennis has searched for someone with the secret to solving it. In Carlos Alcaraz, the secret to solving tennis’s ultimate puzzle may lie in the hands of this Spanish prodigy.