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Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz can become the youngest man to complete a career grand slam if he wins the Australian Open for the first time this month.
A fierce rivalry with under-fire world No.1 Jannik Sinner is driving Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz to new levels as he chases a slice of tennis history at the Australian Open.
Alcaraz, who won at Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year, is within sight of becoming the youngest man to complete a career grand slam - the feat of winning all four majors - in the open era.
Melbourne Park presents the final frontier for the 21-year-old, who claimed the 2022 US Open as the first of his four major crowns so far.
Italian Sinner is the reigning champion Down Under but enters the first grand slam of the new season under a cloud, facing the possibility of a two-year ban for doping.
Sinner will front the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April for a hearing over his two positive doping tests from last year.
In the meantime, he presents as one of the biggest obstacles on the path to Open glory for Alcaraz, who faces Khazakstan's Alexander Shevchenko in the first round.
"When I'm playing against him, I have a different mindset," Alcaraz said of fellow next-generation star Sinner.
"When you are facing the best player in the world, you have to do something different.
"Different preparation, mindset, whatever. When I play him, I know I have to play my best if I want to win.
"If I have a bad day against him, it's 99 per cent chance you are going to lose.
"When I see him win titles or be top of the rankings, it forces me to work harder and focus on the things I have to improve.
"Having such a great rivalry so far, it brings out the best from me."
Ten-time Open champion Novak Djokovic also looms large for Alcaraz ahead of a potential blockbuster match-up with the Spaniard in the quarter-finals.
Alcaraz has never gone further than that stage in three previous attempts in Melbourne, but feels fresh heading into his first tournament of the new season.
And he believes he is better equipped to take on the world's best with a remodelled service action aimed at improving his rhythm and, by extension, precision.
"I think with this one I'm going to get in a good rhythm to hit in the right spot every time," Alcaraz said.
"Something that I have to improve is the precision, you know, I have to be more precise on the serve and I think the good rhythm is going to help."
Alcaraz enjoyed a confidence-boosting win over local favourite Alexei Popyrin in an exhibition match on Friday night, rebounding from his loss to Open eighth seed Alex de Minaur two days earlier.
"It's been a really good week," Alcaraz said.
"I prefer to not come into any tournament before the Australian Open, just to have more time to do a good pre-season to get ready for this tournament.
"It's been a really good week, practising with the best and just seeing what is my level."
