Carlos Alcaraz produced a composed and resilient performance to defeat Novak Djokovic in a gripping Australian Open final, becoming the youngest man in history to complete a career Grand Slam. The 22 year old Spaniard recovered from a slow start to claim a 2-6 6-2 6-3 7-5 victory on Rod Laver Arena and secure his first Australian Open title.
Carlos Alcaraz struggled early as Djokovic, chasing a record breaking 25th Grand Slam crown, dictated play with his experience and precision. The Serb took the opening set comfortably, using depth and variation to unsettle the world number one. Alcaraz gradually settled into the contest, finding greater consistency from the baseline and increasing his intensity as the match wore on.
The second set marked a turning point as Alcaraz raised his level, breaking Djokovic’s rhythm and winning key rallies to level the match. He carried that momentum into the third set, where his athleticism and improved shot selection helped him edge ahead. Djokovic fought hard to stay in contention, but Alcaraz maintained control, saving pressure moments and continuing to apply force from the back of the court.
The fourth set proved decisive, with both players holding serve deep into the set. Alcaraz stayed calm in the closing stages, broke at a crucial moment and served out the match to seal a historic victory. He immediately dropped to the court in celebration, before Djokovic crossed the net to embrace him in a show of respect.
The win makes Alcaraz only the ninth man to lift all four Grand Slam titles and ends Djokovic’s latest attempt to move clear of Margaret Court’s all time record of 24 major singles titles. Djokovic later hinted that this could have been his final appearance in Melbourne, adding further weight to the moment.
Carlos Alcaraz now adds the Australian Open to his titles at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, underlining his status as the leading figure of a new era. Alongside Jannik Sinner, he has dominated the men’s game in recent seasons, with the pair sharing the last nine Grand Slam trophies between them.
