Carlos Alcaraz plans to get a tattoo of a kangaroo to celebrate an Australian Open title

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz gets tattoos to celebrate Grand Slam titles, so he plans to get ink of a kangaroo if he can win the Australian Open to complete a full collection from the four most prestigious events in tennis.

Alcaraz moved closer to becoming, at age 21, the youngest man with a career Grand Slam, overcoming a bit of a blip in the first set he's dropped at Melbourne Park this week for a 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 victory over 33rd-ranked Nuno Borges of Portugal on Friday in the third round.

He already has marked his body with the date of his first major title, which came at the 2022 U.S. Open; a strawberry to represent the first of his two Wimbledon triumphs, in 2023; the Eiffel Tower for last year's French Open victory. What might he choose if he is the last man standing in Rod Laver Arena on Jan. 26?

“A kangaroo, that’s for sure,” Alcaraz said with a wide smile Friday. “The only thing that I'm (missing is) to lift the trophy here, but the plan and the idea is already (there).”

There was a little stretch against Borges where Alcaraz went from well in control to suddenly being unable to put a shot in the court.

It was a bit startling to watch the score go from 2-all to 6-2 in Borges' favor during the third-set tiebreaker, thanks largely to a string of unforced errors by Alcaraz, who already owns a total of four major championships and is seeded No. 3 in Australia.

A bad backhand. A bad forehand. A bad service return. And then, on Borges' second set point, Alcaraz missed another forehand. That set was gone. Alcaraz's resolve and superior shot-making returned in a blink, though, and he quickly was back on his way.

Early in the fourth set, Alcaraz earned a break point and let out his familiar shout of “Vamos!” — as certain a signal as any that he was himself. He converted that for a 2-0 lead with a typically spectacular sequence: He raced forward to retrieve a short shot, then, needing to deal with a well-curled lob, sprinted back to the baseline with his back to the net and spun around to smack a forehand passing winner. Alcaraz's momentum caused his feet to slip out from under him, so he dropped his racket and put his hands on the ground to brace himself.

Seeing that he won the point, Alcaraz rose and pointed to his right ear, seeking even louder praise from the fans, then lifted his right fist.

“I’m trying to play different tennis, showing different kinds of shots,” said Alcaraz, who next faces No. 15 Jack Draper of Britain or Aleksandar Vukic of Australia. “That’s what makes me ... smile on court.”

Alcaraz has not been shy about his goals — over these two weeks or in the bigger picture. Yes, he wants to win the Australian Open for the first time (he lost in the quarterfinals a year ago). And, yes, he might care about getting back to No. 1 in the rankings and winning all sorts of tournaments, but really, his sights are on this: “Try to win as much Grand Slams as I can. That’s my main goal.”

Nuno Borges of Portugal plays a forehand return to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain falls as he reaches for a backhand return to Nuno Borges of Portugal during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Nuno Borges of Portugal plays a backhand return to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays a backhand return to Nuno Borges of Portugal during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts after winning a point against Nuno Borges of Portugal during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reaches for a backhand return to Nuno Borges of Portugal during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts after winning a point against Nuno Borges of Portugal during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Right-hander Tanner Bibee has signed a $48 million, five-year contract with the Cleveland Guardians, a deal that includes a team option for 2030 and could be worth $68 million over six seasons.

Bibee will get his first opening-day assignment on Thursday at Kansas City. He went 12-8 with a 3.47 ERA last season, finishing with 12 quality starts in 31 outings and 187 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings.

The 26-year-old California native was 0-1 with a 3.45 ERA in four postseason starts last year.

He gets a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $3 million in 2025, $4 million in 2026, $7 million in 2027, $10 million in 2028 and $21 million in 2029. Cleveland's 2030 option is for $21 million with a $1 million buyout.

His 2029 salary and the option can escalate by up to $4 million based on Cy Young Award voting from 2025-28. The buyout can increase by an additional $2 million based on Cy Young voting.

Bibee's deal supersedes a one-year contract agreed to March 8 that called for an $812,000 salary in the major leagues and $372,900 in the minors. He would have been eligible for arbitration after each of the next three seasons and for free agency following the 2028 World Series.

Bibee had 10 wins during his rookie season in 2023 and was second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He is the third Cleveland pitcher since 2000 with at least 10 wins in each of his first two seasons in the big leagues. Hall of Famer CC Sabathia (2001-02) and Shane Bieber (2018-19) are the others.

Cleveland selected Bibee in the fifth round of the 2021 amateur draft. He will anchor a young rotation this season that will be missing Bieber for at least the first half as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

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Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee warms up during the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, March 17, 2025, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 17, 2025, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)