Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after winning against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in their men’s singles final of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Sunday. Carlos Alcarazsaid havingRafael Nadalwatching in the crowd helped drive him to a maidenAustralian Opentitle on Sunday and made the win “even more special”. The 22-year-old downed Serbian great Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5to become the youngest man in the Open era to win all four majors.
He had already claimed two titles each at Wimbledon and the French and US Opens. In doing so he surpassed legendary countryman Nadal, who was two years older when he did the same. Nadal greeted Alcaraz in the bowels of the stadium afterwards and they hugged and exchanged warm words.
“I mean, this moment is really special, but having Rafa in the stands, it made it even more special, to be honest,” said Alcaraz. “Lifting the trophy for the first time in Australia was crazy. A dream come true.
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I dreamt about getting an Australian Open and completing the career Grand Slam.” Alcaraz had to rouse himself after a more-than five-hour, five-set epic in the semi-finals against Alexander Zverev, where he suffered cramps and battled back from a 3-5 deficit in the fifth set. He said he drew inspiration from a similar situation involving Nadal at the 2009 Australian Open. Back then, the top-ranked Nadal outlasted fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in what was then the longest match in the tournament’s history at 5hrs 14mins.
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