Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar joined the chorus of sporting greats applauding Carlos Alcaraz after the Spaniard clinched his maiden Australian Open title with a memorable four-set victory over Novak Djokovic in Melbourne on Sunday.
Tendulkar highlighted Alcaraz’s maturity and composure on the biggest stage, singling out his patience as the defining trait of the tournament.
What stood out at the Australian Open was Carlos Alcaraz’s patience. In the longer rallies, he stayed composed, kept his opponent under pressure, and chose his moments smartly. And the way he covered the court, so quick and precise, was a joy to watch! Congratulations… pic.twitter.com/c2MBeBNjC6
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 1, 2026
“What stood out at the Australian
Open was Carlos Alcaraz’s patience,” Tendulkar wrote on X.
“In the longer rallies, he stayed composed, kept his opponent under pressure, and chose his moments smartly. And the way he covered the court — so quick and precise — was a joy to watch. Congratulations @carlosalcaraz! What a valiant effort from @DjokerNole as well.”
The praise capped a historic night for the 22-year-old world No. 1, who defeated 10-time Australian Open champion Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in a gripping final lasting three hours and two minutes.
With the win, Alcaraz not only lifted his first Australian Open trophy but also became the youngest player in men’s tennis history to complete the Career Grand Slam, achieving the milestone at 22 years and 272 days. In doing so, he surpassed the long-standing record set by Don Budge in 1938.
The victory also earned Alcaraz his seventh Grand Slam title, further cementing his status as the defining force of the new generation. He is now the sixth man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam, joining an elite list featuring Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
Notably, Alcaraz is only the fifth player to achieve the feat in the 21st century, following Federer (2009), Nadal (2010), Djokovic (2016), and Agassi.
For Djokovic, the defeat denied him a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
(with agency inputs)
