Carlos Alcaraz has arrived in Melbourne with confidence and curiosity surrounding his preparations for the 2026 Australian Open. The World No. 1 begins the new season under intense focus after a standout 2025 campaign and a year-end finish at the top of the ATP rankings.
As the first Grand Slam of the year approaches, every training move and appearance from the Spaniard is already drawing close attention at Melbourne Park.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Tribute to LeBron James Ahead of Australian Open
Just days ahead of the Australian Open, Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner again underlined their status as the leading rivalry in men’s tennis. The pair met in an exhibition match at INSPIRE Arena in Incheon, South Korea, marking the first battle in 2026 for both players. Alcaraz edged Sinner 7-5, 7-6(6) in straight sets, with the level of intensity and shot-making far higher than any usual exhibition-style match.
Soon after the Korean event, Alcaraz travelled directly to Australia to continue his preparations for the season’s opening major, which begins on Sunday, Jan. 18.
During one early session at Melbourne Park, Alcaraz stepped onto the court wearing a sleeveless Los Angeles Lakers shirt with LeBron James’ famous number 23, a choice that immediately captured the attention of the fans watching from the stands and on social media.
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Carlos Alcaraz rocking a Lebron Lakers shirt at the #AusOpen. pic.twitter.com/yZktr8Hwet
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 12, 2026
The look combined his usual on-court intensity with a clear nod to one of global sport’s biggest icons, adding an extra layer of discussion around his build-up to the tournament. Official footage and fan videos showed the Spaniard settling quickly into the conditions on Rod Laver Arena during the opening days of practice, making him even more lethal.
Alcaraz Chases Career Grand Slam in Melbourne
Before the main draw begins, Alcaraz is also scheduled to appear in the Million Dollar 1 Point Slam, a new exhibition event added to the Australian Open’s expanded Opening Week. The format features 22 professional players and 10 amateurs from across Australia, with each match decided by a single point and rock-paper-scissors used to determine who serves.
The winner of the final, to be played on Rod Laver Arena, will claim a prize of AUS $1 million ($700k), giving the World No. 1 a high-stakes but brief competitive outing immediately before the Grand Slam commences.
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Alcaraz’s main focus, however, remains the Australian Open itself. Last year, he reached the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the second consecutive time, losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, in a high-quality night session that pushed past three and a half hours.
That defeat ended his run but did not slow his overall rise, as he went on to finish 2025 as the ATP year-end World No. 1 for the second time in his career after 2022.
With multiple major titles already to his name and Melbourne still the only Slam where he has yet to go beyond the last eight, the Spaniard now returns chasing a first Australian Open crown and a completed career Grand Slam. He comes into the tournament as the top-ranked player in the world and is expected to lead the men’s seedings at Melbourne Park once the draw is confirmed.
