(No. 1) Carlos Alcaraz def. (No. 4) Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5
Carlos Alcaraz made history Sunday by becoming the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam, winning his maiden Australian Open title with a four-set win over Novak Djokovic in Melbourne. The 22-year-old Spaniard rallied from a slow start to defeat the 38-year-old Djokovic 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5, securing his seventh Grand Slam title and lifting the trophy at all four majors. In doing so, Alcaraz handed Djokovic his first loss in an Australian Open final, snapping the Serbian’s perfect 10–0 record in championship matches at Melbourne Park.
Djokovic surged out of the gates, winning the opening set in just 33 minutes behind near-flawless serving and minimal errors. But the momentum shifted quickly as Alcaraz settled into the match, raising his intensity from the baseline and beginning to dictate rallies with his speed, athleticism, and shot-making. He broke Djokovic twice in the second set to level the match, then carried that control into the third, where he secured an early break and maintained pressure despite Djokovic’s relentless defense.
The fourth set proved decisive. Djokovic dug deep, saving six break points early and pushing Alcaraz to the limit in long, physical exchanges. Yet Alcaraz continued to turn defense into offense, forcing Djokovic to press and rack up uncharacteristic errors. With the match nearing the three-hour mark, Alcaraz broke serve in the final game of the fourth set to seal the win, ending Djokovic’s bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
After dropping the first set, Alcaraz broke Djokovic’s serve repeatedly, won key points in extended rallies, and exposed cracks in the Serb’s usually impenetrable consistency. Djokovic, who entered the match 93–2 at the Australian Open when winning the first set, finished with 46 unforced errors to Alcaraz’s 27 as Alcaraz’s pace and coverage steadily wore him down.
With the win, Alcaraz became the sixth man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam, joining Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, and Rod Laver. He is also the youngest ever to achieve the feat, breaking a mark set by Don Budge in 1938. Across all eras, only nine men have won all four majors, placing Alcaraz firmly among the sport’s legends at just 22 years old.
Already the World No. 1, Alcaraz improved to 7–1 in Grand Slam finals and became the youngest male player in the Open Era to win seven major singles titles, surpassing Björn Borg. The Australian Open crown marked his first title in Melbourne and made him just the second Spaniard to win the event, joining his childhood idol Rafael Nadal, who watched the final from courtside. For Alcaraz, the win is a defining moment that further cements his place at the forefront of men’s tennis.
