Carlos Alcaraz bowed out of the Australian Open in the quarterfinals after losing to Novak Djokovic. This tournament has historically been tough for Spanish players, with only Rafa Nadal lifting the trophy in its 115 editions. For the 21-year-old, it was a heartbreaking end to his top goal for 2025.

A Dream Deferred in Melbourne

As the world’s number 3 and Spain’s brightest hope for the first Grand Slam of the year, Alcaraz faced immense expectations. However, Djokovic turned the tables, defeating him 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 4-6 in a grueling 3-hour-and-37-minute battle. This result dashed the young star's chance to become the youngest player ever to win all four Grand Slam tournaments, a milestone he’ll aim for again in 2026.

In his four Australian Open appearances, Alcaraz has yet to break past the quarterfinal stage—a hurdle he also hit last year against Alexander Zverev. So far, Rafa Nadal is the only Spaniard to claim the title, winning in 2009 and 2022, and finishing as runner-up four times. Players like Juan Gisbert, Andrés Gimeno, and Carlos Moyá reached the final but fell short of victory.

What’s Next for Alcaraz?

Despite this setback, Alcaraz is gearing up for his next challenges. He’ll debut in the ATP 500 Rotterdam (February 3-9) and the ATP 500 Doha (February 17-22). Following that, he’ll compete in the Masters 1000 Indian Wells and Miami from March 5-30, where he already has a stellar record, winning both in 2023 and reclaiming Indian Wells in 2024.