Carlos Alcaraz on course to become youngest to complete Career Grand Slam

Carlos Alcaraz remains on course to become the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam while has now also moved joint-top on the list of men aged 21 and under with the most Grand Slam quarter-final appearances.

The 21-year-old Spaniard equalled his best run at the Australian Open as he moved into the last eight for the second consecutive year, but he was the first to acknowledge "it's not the way I want to win the match".

Alcaraz was leading 7-5, 6-1 when Draper had to retire from their fourth-round encounter due to injury.

"It's not the way I want to win the match to get through to the next round," he said. "I'm just happy to play in another quarter-final in Australia but a little bit sad for Jack, he's a nice person. He doesn't deserve to get injured.

"He couldn't prepare for the start of the season well because of an injury. We should have done a good week of preseason [together], but we couldn't because of an injury as well. I'm just a little bit sad for him but I'm sure he's going to come back stronger and I want to wish him a speedy recovery."

But the win did help Alcaraz to add another feat to his already incredible collection.

The former world No. 1 is already the youngest player to complete the Surface Slam as he has won Grand Slams on grass (Wimbledon 2023 and 2024), on a hard court (US Open in 2022) and on clay (Roland Garros in 2024).

He is now just one Australian Open title away from winning the Career Grand Slam before the age of 22.

The four-time major winner's run to the last eight at Melbourne Park marks the 10th time that he has appeared in the quarter-final of a Grand Slam.

Alcaraz is only the fourth player to reach double figures for Grand Slam quarter-final appearances as he now sits on 10 alongside Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander and Boris Becker.

Alcaraz, though, won't be adding to his list as he turns 22 before the 2025 French Open.

22-time Grand Slam winner Nadal is in fifth place with nine appearances as he reached the last eight at Roland Garros in 2008 before his 22nd birthday.

Alcaraz is now also third on the list of Spaniards with the most quarter-final appearances in the Open Era as he moved ahead of his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and all-time great Manuel Orantes.

Nadal is well clear at the top with 47 while David Ferrer is on 17.

If Alcaraz does go all the way at Melbourne Park, he will become the youngest Australian Open men's singles champion since Novak Djokovic won the title in 2008. The Serbian was 20 years 250 days during that title run while the Spaniard will be 21 years 266 days on the day of the final.

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