Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Melbourne chasing the one title missing from his collection. He left Rod Laver Arena with far more than that.
On a charged Sunday night at the 2026 Australian Open, the 22-year-old
world No. 1 outlasted Novak Djokovic in a gripping four-set final, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to claim his maiden Australian Open crown.
In doing so, Alcaraz didn’t just beat one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen — he rewrote tennis history in real time.
By the end of the night, the Spaniard had shattered age records, joined the sport’s most exclusive club, and added yet another chapter to a career that’s accelerating at a pace tennis has rarely witnessed.
Youngest Career Grand Slam Winner — Ever
At 22 years and 258 days, Alcaraz became the youngest male player in tennis history to complete the Career Grand Slam, surpassing Don Budge’s long-standing mark set in 1938 (22y 355d). Rafael Nadal, until now the modern reference point, achieved the feat at 24.
Sixth Man to Complete the Career Grand Slam (Open Era)
With his Australian Open victory, Alcaraz became just the sixth male player in the Open Era to win all four majors, joining Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and his defeated opponent, Novak Djokovic.
Seven Grand Slams Before 23
This title was Alcaraz’s seventh Grand Slam singles crown, equalling Bjorn Borg for the most majors won by any player under the age of 23 in the Open Era.
Fastest Route to 25 ATP Titles (Since 1990)
Alcaraz reached 25 ATP-level titles in just 86 main-draw appearances, the fewest required by any player since the ATP Tour began in 1990. The rise has been nothing short of blistering.
Biggest Age Gap in an Australian Open Final
The final itself was historic before the first ball. Alcaraz and Djokovic were separated by 15 years and 349 days, the largest age gap between men’s singles finalists in the Open Era at the Australian Open; a true clash of generations.
Defying Djokovic’s First-Set Dominance
Djokovic entered the match 16-3 in Grand Slam finals after winning the first set, with his last loss in that position coming against Alcaraz at Wimbledon 2023. Once again, Alcaraz proved he’s the exception.
How the Final Unfolded
Djokovic struck first, breaking in game five and closing the opening set 6-2 in just 33 minutes. Alcaraz didn’t flinch. He raised his intensity in the second, broke early, and leveled the match with a commanding 6-2 response.
With the roof closed and pressure rising, Alcaraz seized control in the third. A stunning break in game six — capped by a brutal 16-shot rally — carried him to a 6-3 lead.
Djokovic fought hard in the fourth, saving break points and pushing the set to 5-5. But when the moment arrived, Alcaraz stepped forward, breaking in the 12th game to seal history.
