Carlos Alcaraz made history by defeating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final to become the youngest tennis player in the Open era to achieve a career Grand Slam, surpassing Rafael Nadal’s record. Despite losing the first set 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena, the world No. 1 bounced back to win the next three sets 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, securing his victory in Melbourne.
At 22 years old, Alcaraz has previously won each of the other three Grand Slam tournaments twice but had not been successful in Australia until now. After experiencing quarter-final eliminations in the past two years, including a defeat to Djokovic last year, the Spaniard reached his first final this time.
In a thrilling match lasting over three hours, Alcaraz avenged his previous loss to Djokovic and ended the Serbian’s reign by claiming victory. He achieved this milestone at the age of 22 years and 272 days, breaking the previous record held by Don Budge set in 1938. Alcaraz’s win also set a new benchmark as the youngest player to reach seven Grand Slam singles titles, surpassing Bjorn Borg’s record.
The triumph not only solidified Alcaraz’s status in tennis history but also positioned him ahead of his rival Jannik Sinner, who Djokovic defeated in the semi-finals. Djokovic, who was aiming to secure his 25th Grand Slam singles title and become the oldest man to win in the Open Era, fell short in the final against Alcaraz.
Following the match, Djokovic graciously congratulated Alcaraz for his historic achievement and wished him success in his future career. He also acknowledged the presence of his long-time rival Nadal, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to compete against him over the years.
The Australian Open final witnessed a significant shift in the tennis landscape as Alcaraz emerged victorious, marking a new chapter in the sport’s history.
