Melbourne: Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz captured his first Australian Open title after defeating top seed Novak Djokovic in a thrilling four-set final at Melbourne Park on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
The world No. 1 recovered from a slow start to overpower the Serbian great 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, sealing a historic victory that crowned him the youngest men’s singles champion in Australian Open history at just 22 years of age.
Alcaraz’s triumph also marked a major milestone in tennis history. With the Melbourne title added to his previous successes at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, the Spaniard completed the career Grand Slam in record time. He now owns seven Grand Slam titles overall, surpassing Don Budge’s long-standing 1938 benchmark for the fastest completion of all four majors.
The final carried huge stakes for both players. Djokovic was chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title and aiming to become the oldest Grand Slam champion of the Open Era at 38. However, Alcaraz halted those ambitions with a fearless display of power, speed, and composure.
After dropping the opening set, Alcaraz raised his level dramatically, breaking Djokovic at a crucial moment in the third set to take control of the match. The fourth set saw Djokovic mount a strong resistance, but Alcaraz held firm in a tense battle that stretched beyond three hours.
On championship point, Djokovic’s forehand sailed long, prompting Alcaraz to collapse in celebration on Rod Laver Arena. With the win, he joined an elite group of legends including Rod Laver, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic to claim all four Grand Slam titles—faster than any player in tennis history.