Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open men’s singles final to become the youngest male player to achieve a career grand slam on 1 February. The 22-year-old Spaniard won 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, claiming his first Australian Open title and his seventh major overall, adding to two Wimbledon, two French Open, and two US Open titles.
With this victory, Alcaraz extends a remarkable streak: he or fellow Italian Jannik Sinner have won the last nine men’s grand slam events, with Djokovic’s US Open triumph in September 2023 the last exception. By beating the ten-time Australian Open champion, world No 1 Alcaraz consolidates his place atop the ATP men’s singles rankings, ahead of Sinner in second. He is now the ninth male player in history to win all four grand slam tournaments.
At 38, Djokovic was attempting to break the dominance of Alcaraz and Sinner, aiming to become the oldest men’s grand slam winner in the Open era. Ken Rosewall, who won the Australian Open aged 37 in 1972, remains the record holder. A 25th grand slam would have seen Djokovic surpass all men’s and women’s records, including Margaret Court’s 24 major titles.
Djokovic dominated the first set, using his serve to devastating effect and breaking Alcaraz in the fourth game to take it 6-2 in just over half an hour. Alcaraz responded in the second set with superior movement, clever drop shots, and precise groundstrokes, breaking Djokovic early and winning 6-2 to level the match.
The third set was tightly contested, with Alcaraz eventually taking it 6-3 after a long deuce battle on Djokovic’s serve. The fourth set saw Djokovic resist early challenges, but Alcaraz forced a key error in the 12th game to secure two championship points, sealing the match on the first opportunity.
Djokovic had benefitted from some fortunate circumstances en route to the final, including a walkover against Jakub Mensik and Lorenzo Musetti’s retirement in the quarter-finals. Nevertheless, the Serb showcased his skill with a five-set semi-final victory over Sinner, saving energy through straight-set wins in earlier rounds.
Alcaraz, who won his first grand slam at the 2022 US Open, appears set for a long and successful career and a continuing rivalry with 24-year-old Sinner. Djokovic, despite this defeat, remains a strong contender for future major titles.
Youngest players to complete career grand slam:
| Player | Age | Title won to complete feat |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 22 years, 272 days | 2026 Australian Open |
| Rod Laver | 24 years, 32 days | 1962 US National Championships |
| Rafael Nadal | 24 years, 102 days | 2010 US Open |
| Roger Federer | 27 years, 303 days | 2009 Roland Garros |
| Novak Djokovic | 29 years, 15 days | 2016 Roland Garros |
