Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz reacts after a point against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during their men’s singles final match on day fifteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 1, 2026. Picture: David Gray / AFP. Carlos Alcaraz swept past Novak Djokovic to win his first Australian Open on Sunday and become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, denying the Serbian great an unprecedented 25th major.
The Spaniard was imperious after a slow start in dismissing the 38-year-old, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena to claim a seventh Slam title and cement himself as undisputed world number one. In doing so, he became the youngest man in the Open era to win all four majors, adding to his two titles each from Wimbledon and the French and US Opens. At 22, he surpassed legendary countryman Rafael Nadal — in the crowd to witness the feat — who was two years older when he did the same.
A seventh Slam put him alongside John McEnroe and Mats Wilander and one behind Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl. It was a first defeat for Djokovic in a Melbourne final, having won all 10 previously, leaving him still searching for a landmark 25th major to better Australia’s Margaret Court, who was also watching on centre court. Djokovic, striving to become the oldest man to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy, last won one at the US Open in 2023.
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Since then Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have shared the spoils. Both men battled through five long sets in their semi-finals, Alcaraz against Alexander Zverev and Djokovic with Sinner, and recovery was always going to be key after their physical struggles. But they showed few signs of fatigue in another gladatorial contest.
They both opened with comfortable holds before a double fault and netted forehand presented the first break point chance for Djokovic at 2-1. Alcaraz saved it, but the aggressive fourth seed kept pressing and converted on his third, then consolidated for a 4-1 lead.
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