Fast Track: Alcaraz Downs Djokovic in AO Final, Is Youngest Man to Complete Career Slam

By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, February 1, 2026
Photo credit: Izhar Khan/AFP/Getty

Rod Laver Arena was a consequential crossroads.

A visionary Carlos Alcaraz raced through a rousing road trip to a historic Australian Open triumph.

Rallying from a set down, the 22-year-old Alcaraz powered past Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to capture his first AO championship and make history as the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.  

Contesting his 20th major, Alcaraz claimed his seventh Grand Slam crown in an impressive three hour, two-minute triumph. Afterward, Alcaraz paid tribute to the Grand Slam king as pure inspiration.

“Obviously, first of all I want to talk about Novak—I think he deserves an ovation for sure—you’re talking about how I’m doing, but what you are doing is really inspiring not for only the tennis players but all the athletes and all the persons around the world for me as well,” Alcaraz said. “Putting in hard work every day, every tournament you go play for me it’s been an honor sharing the locker, sharing the court and watching you play. So you very much for what you are doing because it’s really inspiring to me.” 

In a historic showdown of ingenious shotmakers, Alcaraz handed 10-time AO champion Djokovic his first Melbourne Park final defeat—and denied the 38-year-old Serbian superstar a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.

Alcaraz arrived at his maiden AO final already a champion for all surfaces as the youngest man to capture Grand Slam championships on the three major surfaces: hard court (2022 and 2025 US Open), grass (2023-2024 Wimbledon) and his native surface red clay at Roland Garros (2024-2025). 

After this magical Melbourne night, the imaginative Spanish superstar is the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam. Dynamic court coverage, explosive shotmaking and all-court creativity carried Alcaraz to his maiden AO title. Alcaraz, who split with ex-coach and former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in December, shared this victory with his team, including coach Samuel Lopez, who provided calm motivation when his charge was cramping during his five hour, 27-minute epic semifinal win over Alexander Zverev.

“I think nobody knows how hard I’ve been working to get this trophy, to taste this moment,” Alcaraz said to his team. “I thank you so much. It’s been a little bit of a rollercoaster emotionally.

“We went through, let’s say, not hearing what the people were saying before coming to Australia. We just did the right work.  You were pushing me every day to do the right things. I just gotta say I’m really grateful for everyone I have in the corner right now. This trophy is always yours.”

At at 22 years, days 272 days, Alcaraz is the youngest man in history to capture all four major championships, breaking an 87-year-old record held by legendary Hall of Famer J. Donald Budge, who was 22 years 363 days when he completed the career Grand Slam at the 1938 French Championships. 

Sixteen years ago, Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz’s tennis hero and Olympic doubles partner, won the 2010 US Open to complete the career Grand Slam at the age of 24. Roger Federer, Alcaraz’s stylistic inspiration, was 27 years old when he defeated Robin Soderling in the 2009 Roland Garros final to win his first French Open and complete the career Grand Slam. 

On this night, Nadal was watching from the front row as Alcaraz hit his way into history. The best player of this time defeating the greatest champion of all time.

The 16-year age gap between Djokovic (38 years 255 days) and Alcaraz was the largest in AO final history and the second-largest gap of any two men in Grand Slam history. Only the 17-year, 304-day age gap between Ken Rosewall and Jimmy Connors in the finals at 1974 Wimbledon and the 1974 US Open was greater.

Djokovic showed grace and class and good humor in enduring his first AO final defeat.

“First and foremost, of course congratulations Carls on an amazing tournament, amazing couple of weeks,” Djokovic said. “To your coach, to your family to your team what you have been doing I think the best word to describe it is ‘historic,’ ‘legendary.’

“I wish you all the best in your career—you’re so young. You have a lot of time like myself so I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other many more times in next 10 years.”

For one set, Djokovic, who toppled world No. 2 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, outplayed the Spanish speedster in a near flawless first set. 

Grand Slam tennis relies on vision and revision.

A remarkable aspect of Djokovic’s AO run is the fact he transformed his identity from impenetrable to imposing. 

Coolest conditions of the tournament greeted the finalists. The chilly 58-degree temperatures did not deter Djokovic, who came out blazing.

Torching the top seed in forehand exchanges, Djokovic had the Spaniard hitting off his heels at times. 

The 38-year-old Serbian superstar coaxed a backhand error breaking for 3-1. Djokovic dabbed an exquisite angled forehand dropper that helped him stamp his second love hold for 4-1 after 28 minutes.

An assertive Djokovic clubbed a crosscourt forehand more than 80 mph for double-set point. When Alcaraz scattered a running forehand, Djokovic snatched a one-set lead after 32 minutes. Djokovic reeled off eight of the last nine points of the set. 

The 10-time AO champion served 78 percent and won 13 of 14 first-serve points in the opening set.

Across the net, Alcaraz, whose vast variety helped him fend off Alexander Zverev in an epic five hour, 27-minute triumph—the second-longest Slam semifinal of the Open Era—made the same mistake Jannik Sinner committed against Djokovic. Rather than mixing it up, Alcaraz stood-toe-to-toe with Djokovic, tried to hit through him and paid a steep price in the first set.

Dropping deeper to receive second serves, Alcaraz’s adjustment worked—aided by a fortuitous bounce. An Alcaraz net cord dribbled over then Djokovic sprayed an inside-out forehand to face double break point. Djokovic botched a serve-and-volley attempt as Alcaraz broke for a 2-1 second set lead, winning eight of the prior nine points.

Dispensing Djokovic’s brand of shotmaking magic against the Serbian, Alcaraz hit a beautiful sliding backhand strike down the line that helped him earned double break point. When the Serbian slapped a forehand into net—his 10th unforced error of the set—Alcaraz had the 5-2 double-break lead. 

“One point, one feeling, one shot can change the whole match completely,” Alcaraz said. “So the first set, I think he played great. I was hitting the ball well. I was moving well. I think all I can say I played well the first set, but you know, in front of me I had a great and inspired Novak, which was playing great, great
shots.

“So in the second set I think the first game he made few easy mistakes that he hadn’t had in the first set, so that gave me a lot of, like, calm, or I just trust and I believe that the match could change a little bit if I stayed there mentally strong or mentally positive, trying to be solid, I just change a little bit tactically that it already didn’t work in the first set. So I changed a little bit, and I think that that helped a lot to get into the match again and I feel comfortable and calmer in the match.”

Plowing through a potent hold at 15, Alcaraz screamed “Vamos!” sealing the second set after 69 minutes of play.

Packing his bag, Djokovic departed Rod Laver Arena before the third set began. Meanwhile, the roof over RLA was closed further, but not completely closed, after the set, apparently because AO officials were concerned rain was approaching.

Eye-popping court-coverage from both men created a shot-making spectacle as Djokovic wrapped a running backhand strike around the net post only to see the streaking Spaniard flick a forehand winner reply. That shot elicited “aahs” from fans and brought a big smile to King of Clay Rafa Nadal’s face as he watched it all go down from the front row.

Pressure percolated midway through the third set when Djokovic missed a backhand down the line to face double break point. Alcaraz brewed up some forehand blasts crosscourt coaxing the error to earn the first break of the set for 3-2.

Draining the life from the legs of his opponent with his quick court coverage and skill stretching the court, Alcaraz left Djokovic hunched over and gulping deep breaths of air in the ninth game.

Exuding champion’s will, Djokovic fought off four set points in the ninth game. 

Alcaraz just kept coming. When Djokovic scattered a backhand down the line wide, Alcaraz broke again to snatch a two sets to one lead after two hours. 

The Grand Slam king showed supreme champion’s character fending off six break points in a punishing 12 ½-minue hold for 1-all in the fourth set. Serbian flags were flying and fans saluted Djokovic’s grit and guts chanting “Nole! Nole! Nole!”

In a dramatic ninth game, a heroic Djokovic summoned deep will ripping a return to gain break point at 30-40—his first break point in more than two hours.

Fans were again screaming “Nole! Nole! Nole!” in support of the stirring stand.

Alcaraz answered with an absolutely audacious short-angled forehand winner then held with a shout for a 5-4 fourth-set lead

Alcaraz won a crackling 24-shot rally to open the 12th game. Though Djokovic played his best set of the tournament in the opener, sustaining that lofty level against a champion 16 years his junior was a bridge too far.

“I mean, for the first set was one of the best sets I’ve played the last couple years,” Djokovic said. “Then, you know, I kind of regained my energy back and momentum in mid-fourth. Asked the
crowd to get involved. They did.

“Yeah, just a bad miss at 4-All and break point, and that forehand, I had a good look at that forehand. Yeah, my forehand broke down in important moments. That’s what happens.

“I mean, one or two shots can change the momentum of the match and switch things around, which happened. Yeah, I’m just very disappointed I wasn’t able to maintain that kind of feeling that I had in the first set.”

When Djokovic scattered one final forehand wide, Alcaraz crashed to the court after three hours, two minutes arising as Australian Open and career Grand Slam champion. Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have combined to capture the last nine consecutive major crowns with no end in sight.

“Too many Spanish legends—it felt like it was two against one—it wasn’t fair, but Okay,” Djokovic joked after thanking Rafa Nadal for his presence in the front row. 

Then the 24-time Grand Slam champion hinted this final speech may well be his Melbourne farewell.

“I want to just say in the end that you guys, particularly in the last couple of matches, gave me something I never experienced in Australia: that much love, support, positivity,” Djokovic said. “I tried to give you back with good tennis. Over the years, this has been my 21st or 22nd year coming to Australia, honestly, I always believe in myself and I think that is something that is truly needed and necessary playing on this level against incredible players like Carlos and Jannik.

“I must be honest and say I did not think I would be standing in a final ceremony again. I owe you the gratitude for the last couple of weeks. God knows what happens tomorrow, let alone the next six months or 12 months. So it has been a great ride. I love you guys.”

Fittingly, the final between tennis’ glorious past and phenomenal future was a passion play.

On this night, the Happy Slam belongs to a joyous champion who suffered through the agonizing semifinal on one leg against Zverev with a smile on his face and competed with toughness, intelligence and imagination to master Melbourne.