World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments, defeating Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to win his first Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Djokovic, who counts 10 Australian Open titles among his 24 career major victories, lost for the first time in an Australian Open final. Ranked fourth in the world entering the tournament, he stunned World No. 2 Jannik Sinner in five sets in their semifinal match on Friday to reach his 11th final.
Alcaraz, a 22-year-old Spaniard, now has seven Grand Slam wins, adding Sunday’s trophy to the two he previously won at each of the other major events — Wimbledon, the French Open and the U.S. Open.
“It’s a great feeling. Completing a career Grand Slam was something that was on my mind,” Alcaraz said after the match, which lasted just over three hours. “Every time that I come here to Australia, I just have preseason with my mind on this tournament to try to work as hard as I can and to be as well-prepared as I can, to play this tournament and try to get the trophy.
“In the previous years, I haven’t gone in a good way, but I am really happy that I just pushed myself to be better and finally [win] this year.”
After the match, Djokovic, of Serbia, and Alcaraz had a friendly embrace at the net that seemed to signify the official changing of the guard in men’s tennis.
Djokovic has won a record 104 main-draw matches in Melbourne. He dominated the first set, then showed the effects of the long match with Sinner as he seemed to tire.
But in the final set, with his energy apparently returned, he fought off six break points to stay on serve in the second game before Alcaraz broke in the final game. With Djokovic serving down 5-6 in the fourth set to try to force a tiebreaker, Alcaraz took a 40-15 lead and celebrated when a Djokovic forehand sailed long.
Alcaraz and Sinner, of Italy, have combined to win the past nine Grand Slam events since Djokovic won the U.S. Open in 2023.
Alcaraz’s fellow Spaniard, 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, was in the stands at Melbourne Park to watch Alcaraz. Before Sunday, Nadal was the youngest man in the Open Era to complete a career slam. He was 24.
“For me it’s a little bit weird seeing Rafa in the stands. I think it’s the first time [he has watched me play] professionally, if I’m not wrong,” said Alcaraz. “I know you watched me when I was 14 or 15 years old, so it’s been a long time. It’s such an honor playing in front of you. We had great battles on the court. … Now seeing you watch my match, it’s just a privilege.”
Nadal and Roger Federer have retired, leaving Djokovic the only one of the sport’s “Big Three” still active as he continues his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam championship.
“I always believe I can,” Djokovic said about the possibility of another major wn. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be competing, and I said this numerous times. It’s great that I was able to beat Jannik in five and really battle Carlos in four close sets. I remain disappointed with the way I felt in second and third [sets] after an incredible start, and I felt great about myself and then things changed.
“It is what it is. That’s sport, but of course, when you draw a line and you make an assessment of what happened over the last couple of weeks, it’s an incredible achievement for me to be able to play finals, be couple of sets away maybe to win a championship. Of course, after a loss, it’s a bitter feeling. But nevertheless, I have to be content with this result.”
–Field Level Media
