Carlos Alcaraz made history at Rod Laver Arena by winning the 2026 Australian Open men’s singles championship, becoming the youngest man to achieve a career Grand Slam. The world No.1 defeated 10-time AO champion Novak Djokovic with a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, marking his first title at the Australian Open.
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Alcaraz's victory, which took three hours and two minutes, broke a record held by Don Budge since 1938. Budge won his career Grand Slam just days before turning 23. At 22 years old, Alcaraz also became the youngest man in the Open Era to win seven Grand Slam singles titles, surpassing Bjorn Borg, who was 23 at the time.
By defeating Djokovic, who last completed his own career Grand Slam at the 2016 Roland Garros, Alcaraz joined an exclusive group as only the ninth man to achieve this feat and the first to do so at the Australian Open.
Alcaraz shared his emotional journey leading up to the tournament, stating, “Nobody knows how hard I’ve been working to get this trophy – I just chased this moment so much.” He expressed admiration for Djokovic, saying, “I enjoy so much watching you play, for me, it’s been an honour sharing the locker, sharing the court.”
Djokovic, embracing the finalist's silverware, recognized Alcaraz's achievement, calling it “historic” and “legendary.” Heading into this match, Djokovic held a 5-4 edge in their rivalry, which features a notable 16-year age difference.
The fourth seed, Djokovic, reached the final after spending four hours less on court than Alcaraz during the tournament, benefiting from a fourth-round walkover and a retirement from Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals.
Alcaraz secured his first break of the match in the second set and went on to win it decisively. He showcased impressive points, including a notable rally against Djokovic in the third set that received applause from the crowd. Both players maintained high tension throughout the match, with Alcaraz ultimately taking control in the final set.
As the match concluded, Alcaraz's victory not only extended his record against Djokovic in major finals to 3-0 but also highlighted the dominance of both him and Jannik Sinner, who have claimed the last nine Grand Slam titles combined. This streak mirrors the earlier championships dominated by Djokovic and Nadal from 2010 to 2012.