Carlos Alcaraz could make tennis history as he looks for his very first Australian Open title in Melbourne.
The world number one needs the Australian Open to complete the Career Grand Slam, and if he wins the 2026 event Down Under, he will become the youngest player to collect all four majors.
Alcaraz’s campaign in Melbourne started solidly, as he dispatched Adam Walton in straight sets on Rod Laver Arena.
The Spaniard might be on the cusp of an incredible record, but Pat Cash is unsure about Alcaraz’s preparations for the Australian Open.
Pat Cash calls Carlos Alcaraz’s split with Juan Carlos Ferrero a ‘head scratcher’
Alcaraz suddenly split with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero in December, after a partnership which brought them six Grand Slams in seven years.
The Spaniard will remain with his other coach, Samuel Lopez, but Cash worries that the split could derail his season.
Speaking to Tennis365, the Australian said: “It’s a head scratcher for me. How can you fire someone who has helped you all the way through and won those Grand Slam titles?
“More importantly, he won two of them last year. It’s not like he just got to one Grand Slam final, which would still be a great result. He won two of them! And was in a final of another one.”
Players rarely split with their coaches when they are on top of their game, which is a worry for Cash when it comes to Alcaraz.
“Hardly a disastrous year, maybe his best year, but he fires his coach. We are seeing a lot of managers and agents who get into a player’s ear, think they know the best for the player and throw a seed of doubt in there, it can really destroy a relationship.
“I’m not saying that’s happened here. I don’t know the ins and outs of it, but I’ve seen a lot of this. Is it a mistake for Alcaraz to do this? We don’t know yet, but let’s see.”
Alcaraz is yet to show signs of weakness in 2026, having beaten Walton at the Australian Open to follow up an exhibition win over Jannik Sinner in South Korea.
Carlos Alcaraz speaks immediately after Australian Open win
Alcaraz might have won his first Australian Open in straight sets, but the star said he found Walton ‘difficult’.
Speaking at his press conference, he said: “In the first set, just one break. Just missed two first serves. I think he was playing really good, really solid. I think he was trying to find the position to attack every time he can.
“Then the second set I think he found more spots to be aggressive. I’m playing good tennis. Just lost the focus a little bit in that game with my serve. It was then more complicated for me.
“Overall just happy. To be honest, I was ready for a good battle. At the same time a little bit unexpected for me the level he played. I had to manage myself to be ready for that battle. Just happy with the level of the first match of the season.”
Alcaraz will play Yannick Hanfmann in the second round, which is set to take place on Tuesday, 20 January.
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