In a historic display of skill and stamina, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to claim his first Australian Open title and seventh major overall.
With the victory, the 22-year-old Spaniard became the youngest man in history to complete a career Grand Slam — winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open — surpassing a record held by Don Budge for 87 years.
The final match was a clash between the fading dominance of a legend and the rising era of a new titan. Djokovic, 38, entered the match seeking a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. Having never lost an Australian Open final in ten previous attempts, the Serbian started brilliantly, taking the first set 6-2 in just 33 minutes. However, the physical toll from a grueling five-set semifinal victory over Jannik Sinner 48 hours earlier began to show.
As the match progressed, Alcaraz’s relentless speed and athleticism overwhelmed the veteran. Despite coming off a 5½-hour semifinal himself, Alcaraz showed no signs of fatigue. He neutralized Djokovic’s precision with extraordinary defensive scrambling and “feathery” drop shots. Alcaraz dominated the middle sets, and although Djokovic fought to a 40-40 deadlock at 4-4 in the fourth set, Alcaraz’s powerful forehands snuffed out the comeback. Djokovic finished with 46 unforced errors, a testament to the pressure Alcaraz exerted.
“What you’ve been doing, I think the best word to describe it, is historic,” Djokovic told him after the match, per The Wall Street Journal.
This victory marked Alcaraz’s first tournament since parting ways with longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. By winning, Alcaraz silenced critics who questioned his level during the off-season. He now joins an elite group of men—including Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer—to win all four majors. His dominance is underscored by the fact that he and Sinner have won the last nine Grand Slams, signaling a definitive changing of the guard.
Reflecting on his achievement, Alcaraz signed the camera lens with “Job finished. 4/4 Complete,” and announced plans to commemorate the win with a kangaroo tattoo. Djokovic, gracious in defeat, described Alcaraz’s trajectory as “historic” and “legendary.”
While Djokovic expressed disappointment at missing his 25th title, he remained encouraged by his performance, vowing to continue competing against the younger generation.
For Alcaraz, the focus now shifts to the French Open as he begins a quest for a calendar-year Grand Slam, a feat not achieved by a man since 1969, when Rod Laver — who accomplished the amazing feat twice — completed his second calendar-year Grand Slam. Budge did so in 1938; Maureen Connolly did so in 1953; Margaret Court did so in 1970; Steffi Graf did so in 1988.
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