MELBOURNE, Australia — Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam after defeating Novak Djokovic, who had never lost in ten finals at Melbourne Park, to win the Australian Open title.
World No. 1 Alcaraz lost the first set on Sunday as Djokovic fought tooth and nail for a record 25th Grand Slam title, but he rallied to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
The 22-year-old Spaniard scrambled to win back shots that were usually game-winners for Djokovic and kept the pressure on his 38-year-old opponent.
Once he was victorious, Alcaraz let his racket slip from his hands, fell to the ground on his back, and put his head in his hands.
He stayed there for a few seconds, then walked to the net to shake Djokovic’s hand. The two players exchanged a few words, with Djokovic smiling and congratulating Alcaraz. The new champion then ran to hug his coach in the courtside chair before hugging his father and other players in the stands.
Both players won their semifinals in five hard-fought sets and displayed incredible levels of fitness, athleticism and endurance in just over three hours in pursuit of their historic achievements.
Neither player is willing to budge on the big issues — and there are plenty of them. In the end, Alcaraz successfully converted five of the 16 break points he set. Djokovic converted two of his six.
Djokovic’s unprecedented bid for a 25th Grand Slam singles title is now blocked by either Alcaraz or Yannick Sinner’s nine majors.
Djokovic, who defeated Sinner in the semi-finals, was aiming to become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title in the Open era, but fell short against Alcaraz.
At the age of 22 years and 272 days, Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete all four Grand Slam singles titles. He broke the record set by Don Bache at the 1938 French Championships, when he was 22 years and 363 days old.
Alcaraz now has seven Grand Slam titles – his first in Australia, as well as two each at Wimbledon, France and the US Open.
