World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz began his quest for tennis immortality on Sunday night, delivering a clinical 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-2 victory over Australian home-favorite Adam Walton. Under the bright lights of a packed Rod Laver Arena, the 22-year-old Spaniard showcased the explosive shot-making and refined tactical depth that has him on the precipice of becoming the youngest man ever to complete the Career Grand Slam.
The win would also make him only the sixth man in the Open Era to achieve the feat, joining the likes of Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
The match marked Alcaraz’s first Grand Slam appearance since his surprising split with long-time mentor Juan Carlos Ferrero in December. Now coached by Samuel Lopez, Alcaraz displayed a noticeable technical shift in his serve, that powered him through tight moments in the first and second sets.
Despite the coaching upheaval, the Spaniard looked mentally refreshed after a nine-week off-season that included a vacation in Miami and Turks and Caicos.
"I stayed home, I recharged the batteries. Mentally, I am fresh to play in the first tournament of the year and I'm ready to play really good tennis in Melbourne," Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference.
While the scoreline suggests a routine victory, the 22-year-old had to weather a spirited challenge from Walton, whose flat baseline groundstrokes occasionally pushed the top seed into a defensive shell.
Set 1 (6-3): Alcaraz secured a decisive break in the eighth game with a ferocious forehand winner before closing out the set in 34 minutes.
Set 2 (7-6): The Spaniard fell behind an early break at 1-3 but showcased his "fighting qualities" to force a tie-break, which he dominated 7-2.
Set 3 (6-2): A demoralized Walton could not sustain the pace as Alcaraz began to dictate play from the centre of the court, wrapping up the match in two hours and five minutes.
With this victory, Alcaraz improved his flawless career record in Grand Slam first-round matches to 20-0, becoming the second man this century, after his fellow compatriot Rafael Nadal, to reach that milestone.
Alcaraz will next face Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann in the second round. While he remains the favorite, his 36 unforced errors on Sunday suggest there is still work to do if he is to overcome his great rival Jannik Sinner, a two-time defending champion, who is on the opposite side of the draw.
The Australian Open remains the only major where Alcaraz has yet to reach a final. In 2026, with history on the line and a new coaching team in his corner, the "Happy Slam" may finally witness the crowning of a new all-surface legend.
