Alcaraz isn’t the only player looking to complete a string of Slam titles.
Like Alcaraz, Poland’s Iga Swiatek has six Grand Slam titles to her name, and the Australian Open is the missing piece of the puzzle.
The 24-year-old has already cemented her place as a future great after a victory at Wimbledon last year that few would have predicted, including herself.
However, defeats to Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic in the sensational United Cup showed that Swiatek needs to iron out some things quickly in Melbourne.
Swiatek says she can “hear” the talk about the career Slam, but she is determined to eliminate any thoughts of achieving it.
“It would obviously be a dream come true. This is not my clear goal that I wake up with. I think more about how I want to play, what I want to improve every day,” she said.
Gauff joins Swiatek as part of a triumvirate that has won nine of the past 12 majors, but it is the third member – two-time Melbourne champion Aryna Sabalenka – who is the pre-tournament favourite.
World number one Sabalenka warmed up by winning the Brisbane title last week, although she thinks that counts for little.
“It’s tennis, that’s why it’s so beautiful, because you can’t predict anything,” said the 27-year-old Belarusian, who lost to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final last year.
“Every day you go out and prove your level.”
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