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SPANISH TENNIS PLAYER Carlos Alcaraz has won the men’s single final at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, 38, faced off against Alcaraz, 22, in the Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic won the first set of the final 6-2 over world number one Carlos Alcaraz, while Alcaraz won the second set against Djokovic 6-2, the third set 6-3 and the fourth set 7-5.
Djokovic was attempting to win a record 25th Grand Slam title while Alcaraz was bidding to complete a record career Grand Slam.
The triumphant win means Alcaraz now holds the title of the youngest man in history to win the Grand Slam of all four majors, having previously won the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
At 22, he surpassed legendary countryman Rafael Nadal – in the crowd to witness the feat – who was two years older when he did the same.
A seventh Slam put him alongside John McEnroe and Mats Wilander and one behind Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl.
It was a first defeat for Djokovic in a Melbourne final, having won all 10 previously, leaving him still searching for a landmark 25th major to better Australia’s Margaret Court, who was also watching on centre court.
Djokovic, striving to become the oldest man to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy, last won one at the US Open in 2023. Since then Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have shared the spoils.
Both men battled through five long sets in their semi-finals, Alcaraz against Alexander Zverev and Djokovic with Sinner, and recovery was always going to be key after their physical struggles.
But they showed few signs of fatigue in another gladatorial contest.
They both opened with comfortable holds before a double fault and netted forehand presented the first break point chance for Djokovic at 2-1.
Alcaraz saved it, but the aggressive fourth seed kept pressing and converted on his third, then consolidated for a 4-1 lead.
Djokovic was reading Alcaraz’s serve well and once he got in the rallies was authoritative, with a sensational forehand winner earning him two set points.
He claimed the set in a statement 33 minutes after a ninth unforced error from the top seed, having dominated the big moments.
It was vintage Djokovic, but Alcaraz came storming back, upping the tempo to break for 2-1 in the second set, pumping his fist when he saved a break point and held in the next game.
Djokovic put drops to his eyes and began rubbing them, unable to tame a now rampant Alcaraz who broke again for 5-2.
There were some sensational rallies that had the crowd on their feet in set three, which went with serve until Djokovic slapped a forehand wide under pressure to slip 2-3 behind.
He gamely saved four set points at 3-5 but with his energy levels dropping was unable to save a fifth as the Spaniard took control.
On the back foot, Djokovic then saved six break points in an 11-minute opening service game in set four to stay alive and kept fighting hard.
But Alcaraz ground him down and pounced as Djokovic served to stay in the match to seal a maiden Australian championship.
It ensured he remained world number one and Sinner two, with Djokovic moving up a place to three ahead of Zverev.
Yesterday’s women’s final saw Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Belarussian player Sabalenka, 27, faced off against Rybakina, 26, in a thrilling 2 hour 18 minute match.
With reporting from AFP
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