Alcaraz: My next goal is to achieve a career Grand Slam.

The last men's singles Grand Slam of the year concluded with Alcaraz securing his second US Open trophy and sixth major title overall, further cementing his remarkable legacy. At 22, the Spanish player is already focused on an even bigger goal — achieving a career Grand Slam.

So far, Alcaraz has won the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open twice each, with the Australian Open remaining the only major title he has yet to conquer. He plans to challenge for this crown at the start of the new season: "Honestly, this is my top priority. Every time I plan my off-season improvements, the Australian Open is always my main focus." Alcaraz admitted, "It’s the most important tournament at the beginning of the season. Completing a career Grand Slam, or even a calendar-year Grand Slam, has always been my central ambition."

By defeating Sinner, Alcaraz not only lifted his sixth Grand Slam trophy but also reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking from his rival — his first return to the top spot since September 2023. "Since the opportunity to regain No. 1 came up, it became my primary goal for this season. Achieving this dream again, especially winning a Grand Slam and returning to No. 1 on the same day, feels incredible. This is exactly why I work so hard," Alcaraz said.

Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, known for his strictness, praised his pupil’s performance as "perfect" multiple times after the match. "He always demands my best level, so receiving a 'perfect' rating is rare. This victory is truly significant. His assessment was spot on, and I believe I played at my absolute best. This tournament was the most flawless performance of my career, maintaining a very high level from the first round through to the final. This consistency is what I have been striving to improve," Alcaraz explained.

In this tournament, Alcaraz lost only one set (in the final against Sinner), becoming the second male player since 1991 to win a Grand Slam while losing no more than three service games — the last to achieve this feat was Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in 1994 and 1997.

This marks the third consecutive Grand Slam final meeting between Alcaraz and Sinner, and their legendary rivalry will continue. Currently, Alcaraz leads their head-to-head 10-5. The Spaniard commented, "I enjoy watching him (Sinner) play; his performance is amazing. By studying his tactics and on-court mindset, I can better understand his technical traits — although not entirely predictable, I’m very aware of his key weapons."

Looking ahead, Alcaraz will focus on the remaining two Masters tournaments of the season and aims to win the ATP Finals for the first time, but right now he is basking in the glory of New York: "Lifting the trophy is always a wonderful moment. Even winning it for the second time feels like a dream come true. This trophy holds a very special and unique meaning."

(Translation by Wang Fei, Photo by Visual China)