Media day at the Australian Open habitually takes on more significance than elsewhere.
It’s where we gain greater insight into player goals for 2026 and thoughts on the year’s opening Grand Slam.
Carlos Alcaraz — bidding once again to complete a career Grand Slam in Melbourne — featured Friday and one topic was keenly discussed.
No, he wasn’t asked about his new Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge tattoos, additions to the Spaniard’s body art after winning the US Open in New York.
Instead, it was the 22-year-old’s coaching arrangement that attracted much of the attention.
Whereas, Novak Djokovic showed up last year in Melbourne with former No.1 Andy Murray, Alcaraz has arrived without his longtime mentor and former No.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.
When Alcaraz split with Ferrero — who he likened to a father figure — in the off-season, fans and Alcaraz’s peers were shocked.
But the current No.1, donning a brown cap and retro beige sports top, seemed his usually relaxed self as he shed light on the split with the man who guided him for much of his tennis life.
The six-time Grand Slam winner described it as a “chapter of life” that had to end.
“I've got to say that I'm really grateful for these seven years I've been with Juan Carlos,” Alcaraz said.
“I learned a lot. Probably thanks to him I'm the player that I am right now. But internally we decided like this. We both are still friends, good relationship.”
There remains familiar faces in his box, as Alcaraz points out.
The experienced Samuel Lopez, who joined in late 2024, is still around and not much has changed with his actual preparation.
“I have the same team that I had last year,” Alcaraz said. “Just one member missing. But the rest of the team, everyone is the same. So, we didn't change the routine at all. We just (went) through the pre-season and the season in the same way, probably with the improvement that I really want to do.”
Alcaraz will be the first to know that if things don’t work out over the next two weeks, the decision to end his working relationship with Ferrero will be further scrutinised.
Roger Federer, in town as part of the Australian Open’s first ever Opening Ceremony and who shared a similar dizzying all-court game, ruled himself out, by the way.
Alcaraz didn’t contest a lead-in event — that last happened in 2021 — but opted to play an exhibition with friendly rival Jannik Sinner in South Korea in January.
If he does go all the way and becomes the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam, recent history suggests Sinner will await in the final at Rod Laver Arena.
Twelve months ago, seeing the pair in the finale seemed possible, though not a sure thing. Alcaraz showed up ranked third and had never faced the Italian in a Grand Slam final.
Now, anything other than the two squaring off would constitute a surprise of grand proportions. After all, they have battled it out in three consecutive Grand Slam finals.
For Alcaraz, landing a maiden Australian Open crown is his main goal in 2026.
“I'm just hungry for the title, hungry to do a really good result here,” Alcaraz said.
The Australian Open has proved to be Alcaraz’s toughest title to date.
He lost to Novak Djokovic in last year’s quarterfinals — the 24-time Grand Slam winner tweaked his tactics after a hamstring injury in the first set — and fell at the same hurdle to Alexander Zverev in 2024.
Zverev bagged the first two sets in a quick-fire hour and 10 minutes.
His only five-set defeat? Against Matteo Berrettini four years ago at Melbourne Park.
Alcaraz starts his quest Sunday against Adam Walton, the Queenslander who shaped his game in the NCAA ranks.
“I'm really excited about the tournament to begin,” he said.