By Santiago Aparicio
Sports Desk, Feb 1 (EFE).- Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, to win the Australian Open on Sunday and complete the Grand Slam at the youngest age, sealing the title with a four-set victory that marked a generational shift at the top of men’s tennis.
At 22 years and 272 days, the world No.1 overcame 10-time Australian Open champion 2-6 6-2 6-3 7-5 to etch his name onto the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for the first time and become the youngest man ever to achieve the feat.
A forehand in search of the equalizer that drifted long sealed the Serbian’s fate and elevated the Spaniard to glory.
With Rafael Nadal watching from the stands as a privileged witness, the Murcian produced a historic final in which he grew steadily into the match.
What began under the control of his opponent’s experience ended with Alcaraz imposing maturity, solidity and talent.
Without Juan Carlos Ferrero in his box for the first time, and guided instead by Samuel López, Alcaraz opened 2026 in spectacular fashion, consolidating his position at the top of the world rankings, now well ahead of Jannik Sinner, whom Djokovic had defeated in the semifinals.
After surviving a demanding semifinal against Germany’s Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz found his rhythm and claimed his fifth victory over Djokovic in ten meetings.
It was revenge for last year’s Australian Open, where the Serb had eliminated him in the quarterfinals. This time, the Spaniard did not let the opportunity slip.
Djokovic, however, began the final at an extraordinary level. The 24-time Grand Slam champion came close to perfection in the opening set, exposing Alcaraz’s initial tension and breaking early to race to a 6-2 lead.
There was no sign of the 38 years and 255 days that made Djokovic the oldest finalist in Australian Open history and the second-oldest in any Grand Slam final, behind only Australia’s Ken Rosewall.
Brilliant on return and rock-solid on serve, the Serb imposed himself as he has done so often throughout his career.
But Alcaraz had already begun to hint at a change. He steadied himself, added an extra ball to rallies, and gradually pushed Djokovic out of his comfort zone.
The Spaniard broke in the third game of the second set and, despite some tense moments, consolidated the advantage to level the match, again 6-2.
The final was transformed. Alcaraz smiled, relaxed and began to enjoy himself, while Djokovic struggled to sustain the flawless level of the opening set.
With the roof closed due to forecast rain, Alcaraz extended his momentum in the third set.
He held serve comfortably and broke Djokovic in the fifth game, closing out the set 6-3 with authority to move ahead for the first time. It was the Spaniard’s finest passage of play, full of brilliance and intensity.
The fourth set was the last stand. Djokovic fought fiercely, saving six break points early on, and later creating chances of his own.
Alcaraz resisted every surge until, on the brink of a tie-break, he secured the decisive break. He collapsed to the court in celebration before embracing his rival at the net.
Alcaraz lifted his first Australian Open trophy and became the ninth man in history to complete the Grand Slam, joining Don Budge, Fred Perry, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
In his fifth appearance in Melbourne and his 20th Grand Slam tournament overall, the Spaniard completed the circle.
Nadal, the only other Spanish man to have won the Australian Open, in 2009 and 2022, watched on as history was made.
Alcaraz now stands second on Spain’s all-time list of men’s Grand Slam champions, behind Nadal.
He has won seven of the eight major finals he has contested. At just 22, he is established as the dominant player of the present, and the youngest in history to conquer them all. EFE
apa-sk
