Carlos Alcaraz Garfia delivered a stunning performance at Melbourne Park on Sunday, rallying from an early setback to overcome Novak Djokovic and secure his first Australian Open men’s singles crown.
The 22-year-old Spaniard showed composure and resilience against the vastly experienced Serbian, rebounding after losing the opening set to record a 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5 victory and lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. It was a statement win over Djokovic, now 38, and another defining chapter in Alcaraz’s rapidly evolving career.
The triumph marked Alcaraz’s seventh Grand Slam title, placing him alongside tennis legends John McEnroe and Mats Wilander on the all-time list. More significantly, the world number one became the youngest male player in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam, achieving the feat at 22 years and 272 days. In the process, he broke a long-standing record set by Don Budge nearly nine decades ago.
Alcaraz is now just the ninth man in history to win all four major titles, joining an exclusive group that includes Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic himself. Known affectionately as “Carlitos,” he is also the first male player under 23 to claim seven Grand Slam titles, a milestone Djokovic only reached later in his career. The victory brought their head-to-head record level at 5–5.
Alcaraz’s Melbourne success earned him $2.79 million in prize money, sealing a historic night that further cemented his place among the sport’s greats.
