At the age of 22, Carlos Alcaraz remains grounded, even though he sometimes has a hard time believing his achievements. Fresh off his historic victory at the Australian Open 2026, the Spanish star is now the center of attention not only in tennis but across the global sports world.
Alcaraz’s triumph has shattered age-related records and placed him in rarefied territory, cementing his status as Spain’s biggest tennis idol and a favorite among fans worldwide. Days after his win, headlines continue to roll in as he follows the tournament’s traditional champion’s schedule.
That routine began with posing alongside the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, the Australian Open trophy, during a photo session in the gardens of Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building, surrounded by dozens of photographers. From there, Alcaraz returned to his hotel, Crown Towers, where he sat down for a series of one-on-one interviews with international media.
© Getty ImagesIt was during these conversations that the native of Murcia shared some of his most personal reflections. Dressed in Louis Vuitton, one of the tournament’s sponsors, Alcaraz spoke candidly about the whirlwind following the end of the Australian Open and some of the moments that he’ll never forget. One of these is a post-match encounter with Rafael Nadal in the corridors of Rod Laver Arena.
“He congratulated me and we talked a little about the match,” Alcaraz said, as reported by Marca. “It was a very special moment to hug Rafa.”
Asked whether he managed to sleep after the final, Alcaraz was honest about the adrenaline still running high. “I didn’t sleep much. With the adrenaline from the final, it’s hard to fall asleep. I wish there had been time to celebrate, but there wasn’t,” he said.
© FIONA HAMILTON“I got back to my room at around 2:30 a.m. without having dinner. I ordered something and ended up going to bed at about 4:30.”
He spent the night with his brother Álvaro and some close friends. Some of his family members, including his father and uncle, were also in attendance, supporting him throughout the tournament. “Having my dad here makes me really happy,” said Alcaraz.
Alcaraz’s incoming tennis season
There has been little time to unwind since lifting the trophy, though Alcaraz knows relief is coming. A long flight home awaits him, and he’s looking forward to finally switching off. “Thankfully, I’ve got a flight ahead of me where I can rest,” he said. He described the past few weeks as “two very intense weeks, full of emotions,” with the experience being mentally taxing at every level.
For now, his priority is simple: “I want to stop, get home, and see how my body and my mind respond over the next few days.”
As for 2026? Alcaraz isn’t lacking in ambition. He wants to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. He embraces the Grand Slam challenge naturally. At this point, he may be the only one capable of pulling it off.
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