Roger Federer has thrown his support behind Carlos Alcaraz’s bid to complete a historic career Grand Slam, saying he hopes the young Spaniard can lift the Australian Open and make history as the youngest man to achieve the feat.
Alcaraz, 22, already boasts an impressive collection of major titles, with two victories each at Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open. The Australian Open remains the only Grand Slam missing from his résumé as he heads into this year’s tournament in Melbourne.
Federer, who sealed his own career Grand Slam with a French Open triumph in 2009, noted that completing the set often requires patience and perseverance. He compared Alcaraz’s challenge to Rory McIlroy’s long pursuit of the Masters title, describing such milestones as notoriously difficult to achieve.
Speaking at Melbourne Park, the 44-year-old Swiss legend said accomplishing the career Grand Slam at such a young age would be extraordinary. He added that if Alcaraz were able to do it now, it would be a special moment not just for the player, but for the sport as a whole.
Alcaraz, currently world number one, is locked in a compelling rivalry with Italy’s Jannik Sinner. The pair have shared the last eight Grand Slam titles between them and faced each other in the past three finals, drawing comparisons to the era-defining battles Federer once had with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Reflecting on their rise, Federer praised the rapid progression of both players, describing their development over recent years as remarkable, despite never having played either before his retirement in 2022.
