Generational Rivalry: Jannik Sinner wins first 2026 clash with Carlos Alcaraz in Monte Carlo for biggest career clay title

Carlos Alcaraz has made a lot of history over the last few years, including becoming the youngest man ever to win Grand Slam titles on hard, grass and clay. He won his first US Open title in 2022, his first Wimbledon title in 2023 and his first Roland Garros title in 2024.

And in a few weeks, he’ll go for more history.

If he wins his first Australian Open title this year, the 21-year-old would become the youngest man ever to complete a Career Slam. As of now, Don Budge holds that record—the American was 22 years old when he completed his Career Slam at Roland Garros in 1938.

And there’s more.

Because Budge was 22 years and 11 months when he achieved the feat, Alcaraz would break his record whether he wins the Australian Open in 2025 or 2026. He’ll be 21 years and eight months in Melbourne this year, and 22 years and eight months next year.

MEN TO COMPLETE THE CAREER SLAM (by age):

22 years, 11 months: Don Budge [1938 Roland Garros]
24 years, 1 month: Rod Laver [1962 US Open]
24 years, 3 months: Rafael Nadal [2010 US Open]
26 years, 0 months: Fred Perry [1935 Roland Garros]
27 years, 8 months: Roy Emerson [1964 Wimbledon]
27 years, 9 months: Roger Federer [2009 Roland Garros]
29 years, 0 months: Novak Djokovic [2016 Roland Garros]
29 years, 1 month: Andre Agassi [1999 Roland Garros]

And strangely enough, Alcaraz would also be the first man ever to complete his Career Slam at the Australian Open—of the current eight men in the club, five of them did it at Roland Garros, two of them at the US Open and one of them at Wimbledon.

Since becoming a Top 10—or even Top 20—player in 2022, Alcaraz has only played the Australian Open once, reaching the quarterfinals in 2024. He missed the tournament in 2023 because of a leg injury.

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While Alcaraz would be the first man to complete his Career Slam at the Australian Open, there are three women who did it Down Under—Shirley Fry in 1957, Chris Evert in 1982 and, most recently, Serena Williams in 2003, which was the final leg of her first Serena Slam.

Those three Americans are among 10 women ever to complete a Career Slam, and the venue for doing it is much more evenly distributed, with three of them doing it at the Australian Open, three at Roland Garros, one at Wimbledon and three at the US Open.

WOMEN TO COMPLETE THE CAREER SLAM (chronological):

Maureen Connolly [at 1953 Roland Garros]
Doris Hart [at 1954 US Open]
Shirley Fry [at 1957 Australian Open]
Margaret Court [at 1963 Wimbledon]
Billie Jean King [at 1972 Roland Garros]
Chris Evert [at 1982 Australian Open]
Martina Navratilova [at 1983 US Open]
Steffi Graf [at 1988 US Open]
Serena Williams [at 2003 Australian Open]
Maria Sharapova [at 2012 Roland Garros]

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