Carlos Alcaraz triumphed in a thrilling Australian Open final, becoming the youngest player to achieve a career Grand Slam and thwarting Novak Djokovic’s bid for a 25th major title.
The 22-year-old Alcaraz collapsed in joy on the court after securing a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 victory in Melbourne.
Despite his disappointment, Djokovic displayed sportsmanship by crossing the net to embrace Alcaraz, acknowledging the historic moment.
However, Djokovic is aware that he may not have many more chances to solidify his legacy as the greatest player of all time.
After the match, the ten-time champion expressed uncertainty about his future in Melbourne.
“I never expected to be standing at the closing ceremony of a Grand Slam again,” Djokovic told the audience of 15,000.
“Who knows what tomorrow holds, let alone the next six or twelve months, but it has been an incredible journey.”
Alcaraz initially struggled as the 38-year-old Djokovic utilized his experience to dominate the early stages of the match.
However, Alcaraz found his rhythm from the baseline and outlasted the fourth-seeded Serb to secure his seventh major title.
Alcaraz is now only the ninth man in history to win all four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.
With Alcaraz’s victory, Djokovic’s quest for a record 25th major title continues.
He has been tied with Australia’s Margaret Court, who was present at Rod Laver Arena, since winning the 2023 US Open.
In recent years, Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner have emerged as the leading figures in men’s tennis.
Alcaraz’s first win on the hard courts of Melbourne means the two have claimed the last nine major titles between them.
Djokovic put forth an extraordinary effort to defeat second seed Sinner in the semi-finals, but facing both younger opponents back-to-back proved to be a daunting challenge.
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“The work you have been doing is historic—legendary,” Djokovic praised Alcaraz during his runner-up speech.
With a smile, he added, “You’re still young, so I’m sure we’ll meet many more times in the future.”
The highly anticipated final was significant for both players, bringing an exciting conclusion to what had been a somewhat lackluster Australian Open.
After their intense semi-final matches on Friday, neither player practiced on Saturday, leaving everyone curious about their performance on Sunday.
Djokovic noted that Alcaraz had the advantage due to their age difference—he is 16 years younger—but the veteran made a strong start, defying expectations.
